EP1703236A1 - Abgabevorrichtung eines Produktes und Kühlverfahren - Google Patents

Abgabevorrichtung eines Produktes und Kühlverfahren Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1703236A1
EP1703236A1 EP05290394A EP05290394A EP1703236A1 EP 1703236 A1 EP1703236 A1 EP 1703236A1 EP 05290394 A EP05290394 A EP 05290394A EP 05290394 A EP05290394 A EP 05290394A EP 1703236 A1 EP1703236 A1 EP 1703236A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
product
dispensing device
evaporator
cavity
heat exchanger
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP05290394A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Pierre Jeuch
Lionel Frantz
Fadi Khairallah
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Thermagen SA
Original Assignee
Thermagen SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Thermagen SA filed Critical Thermagen SA
Priority to EP05290394A priority Critical patent/EP1703236A1/de
Priority to PCT/FR2006/000187 priority patent/WO2006090038A1/fr
Priority to US11/816,698 priority patent/US20080141682A1/en
Priority to JP2007555656A priority patent/JP2008531246A/ja
Publication of EP1703236A1 publication Critical patent/EP1703236A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D31/00—Other cooling or freezing apparatus
    • F25D31/006—Other cooling or freezing apparatus specially adapted for cooling receptacles, e.g. tanks
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B17/00—Sorption machines, plants or systems, operating intermittently, e.g. absorption or adsorption type
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B21/00—Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects
    • F25B21/02—Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2331/00—Details or arrangements of other cooling or freezing apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2331/80—Type of cooled receptacles
    • F25D2331/806—Dispensers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a product dispensing device, for example viscous product such as care creams or hygiene for example.
  • the invention relates to a refrigerated product dispensing device, that is to say a dispensing device that allows to cool a controlled amount of product just before its expulsion for use by a consumer.
  • Such hygiene, care or treatment product dispensing devices generally comprise a device of the manual pump type which allows the delivery of a small controlled quantity of product contained in a reservoir.
  • These pump devices generally include two check valves, such as ball valves, to control the admission and expulsion of the product into a cavity provided with a manually operated piston.
  • US-A-4,802,343 discloses a beverage refrigeration device comprising a refrigeration cavity through which the beverage flows during consumption. This device does not include means for expelling a controlled amount of refrigerated product but simply a conduit flowing the product through the refrigeration cavity. In addition, the device described does not allow to turn on and off repeatedly the cooling of a given amount of product.
  • US-A-6,688,132 discloses a refrigeration system for a transport container.
  • the system includes a coolant flow restrictor for controlling refrigeration power by a controlled supply of coolant from a tank external to the evaporator.
  • the system described in this patent is intended to provide refrigeration over a long period of time and does not allow the refrigeration of controlled quantities of products expelled after cooling.
  • the present invention provides a product dispenser comprising a refrigeration cavity adapted to receive the product to be dispensed to cool just before its expulsion for use by a consumer.
  • the expulsion means of the product also constitute the product admission means and a first pallet is integral with the heat exchanger, a second pallet is integral with the product reservoir and the moving assembly is adapted to cause relative movement between the product tank and the heat exchanger.
  • the cooling means comprise a Peltier element.
  • the filling of the refrigeration cavity with the product to be dispensed is carried out by admission of product from a product tank to be refrigerated.
  • the activation of the cooling means is triggered by the admission of product into the refrigeration cavity.
  • Figure 1 shows a refrigeration cavity 10 which can receive a product to be dispensed.
  • the product can be placed in the refrigeration cavity during the marketing of the dispenser, as will be described more fully with reference to Figure 6, or be admitted into the refrigeration cavity just before cooling and expulsion for use.
  • the product to be dispensed may be viscous, that is, the product has a certain resistance to flow. It can be a cosmetic or medical care cream or a food product.
  • the dispensing device according to the invention can also be used for liquid products, such as sera, in particular if they are to be used in small amounts.
  • FIG. 1 also shows a heat exchanger 25 forming a wall of the refrigeration cavity 10.
  • the heat exchanger 25 is cylindrical and the refrigeration cavity 10 is delimited by two coaxial cylinders, the inner cylinder being constituted by the heat exchanger 25.
  • the heat exchanger may however have any other suitable form, for example flat, with a rectangular-shaped cavity, as illustrated in FIG. 7.
  • Figure 1 also shows cooling means of the heat exchanger.
  • these cooling means are based on a method of evaporative cooling adsorption, the principle of which consists in evaporating a liquid under the effect of a depression maintained by adsorption of the vapors of said liquid.
  • the cooling means of the product dispenser of FIG. 1 comprise an evaporator 20 adapted to receive a cooling liquid and its vapor and a reservoir 30 containing means for pumping by adsorption of said vapor of the cooling liquid, for example a desiccant block as described in the patent application EP-A-1 297 287.
  • a link 40 between the evaporator 20 and the reservoir of pumping 30 is provided to allow the adsorption of the vapors of the cooling liquid and thus the cooling of the heat exchanger 25 and therefore the product contained in the refrigeration cavity 10.
  • the heat exchanger 25 forms a common wall to the evaporator 20 and the refrigeration cavity 10.
  • Figure 1 further shows a tank 50 of product to be refrigerated.
  • This reservoir 50 contains the care product, hygiene or other, to distribute.
  • a controlled amount of product is introduced into the refrigeration cavity 10 to be cooled before being forced out for use.
  • the refrigerated product dispensing device according to the invention thus comprises means for admitting the product to be refrigerated in the refrigeration cavity 10 and means for expelling the refrigerated product from said cavity which will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3.
  • a non-return valve 5 may be provided between the product reservoir 50 and the refrigeration cavity 10 to prevent any discharge of refrigerated product from the cavity 10 to the reservoir 50.
  • a non-return valve 6 may also be provided between the cavity 10 and an external expulsion zone to the cavity to prevent an air intake into the refrigeration cavity during the suction of the product to be refrigerated in said cavity.
  • Fig. 1 the cooling reaction is activated and controlled by introducing coolant into the evaporator 20.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates in more detail the cooling control according to this first embodiment.
  • the evaporator 20 and the pumping tank 30 are in an open connection, the assembly being kept under vacuum.
  • the vacuum in the evaporator 20 is less than 1mbar at 23 ° C.
  • a flexible tube 61 connects a coolant reservoir 60, containing water for example, to the evaporator 20.
  • This tube 61 passes through a peristaltic pump 65 for delivering a controlled amount of liquid by smoothly.
  • the tube 61 is gripped by rollers 66 against a cylindrical bore external ( Figure 2) or against an internal cylinder ( Figure 1); the rotation of the rollers causes the liquid included in the tube 61 between two rollers.
  • the liquid reservoir 60 is in direct communication with the evaporator 20 because there is always at least one roller 66, and preferably two rollers, which seal the connection by crushing the tube 61.
  • the evaporator 20 contains a deflector 22 which deflects the jet of liquid water towards the walls forming the heat exchanger 25 covered with a hydrophilic porous layer 21.
  • This water while evaporating, cools the exchanger 25 and the product contained in the refrigeration cavity 10 in contact with the exchanger.
  • the cooling is thus triggered by introducing coolant into the evaporator 20 and stopped when all the vapors of the coolant have been adsorbed.
  • the peristaltic pump 65 is therefore dimensioned with an internal diameter of the tube 61, a number of rollers 66 and a spacing between the rollers corresponding to a given quantity of water necessary for the proper cooling of the volume of the refrigerating cavity 10.
  • the activation of the cooling is provided by a movable assembly 70, in rotation in the mode of Figure 1, which drives the rollers 66 against the tube 61 wound on the walls of the fixed liquid reservoir 60.
  • the product dispensing device is adapted to cool a given amount of product, then to expel this cooled product to the outside for use.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates in detail a possible embodiment for the admission of a controlled quantity of product into the refrigeration cavity and for its expulsion after cooling.
  • FIG. 3 shows in cross section the product reservoir 50, the refrigeration cavity 10, and the evaporator 20 and the heat exchanger 25 forming a common wall between the evaporator 20 and the refrigeration cavity 10.
  • FIG. also shows the non-return valves 5 and 6 respectively between the product tank 50 and the refrigeration cavity 10 and between the refrigeration cavity 10 and an expulsion zone 55 of the cooled product.
  • FIG. 3 also shows means of admission and expulsion of the product.
  • these admission and expulsion means comprise a fixed pallet 11 and a movable pallet 12 arranged in the refrigeration cavity 10.
  • a first pallet for example the fixed pallet 11, is integral. of the heat exchanger 25.
  • a second pallet for example the movable pallet 12, is integral with the product reservoir 50.
  • the product reservoir 50 is movable with respect to the heat exchanger 25. More specifically, the product reservoir 50 is rotatable with respect to the refrigerating cavity 10 and the evaporator 20 which remain fixed.
  • the movable pallet 12 integral with the reservoir moves in said cavity 10.
  • the volume of the refrigeration cavity 10 is thus delimited by a wall common to the reservoir 50, a common wall with the evaporator 20 constituting the heat exchanger 25, and the fixed pallet 11 and mobile12.
  • the suction of product to be refrigerated from the tank 50 to the refrigeration cavity 10 is carried out as follows.
  • the use of the terms right, left and trigonometric direction is made with reference to FIG. 3 and is not limiting to the implementation of the invention.
  • the mobile pallet 12 When the cavity 10 is empty of product, the mobile pallet 12 is substantially in abutment against the right side of the fixed pallet 11.
  • the tank 50 is rotated in the anti-trigonometric direction.
  • the movable pallet 12 secured to the tank is then driven away from the fixed pallet 11.
  • the vacuum created between the two pallets 11, 12 opens the non-return valve 5 between the tank 50 and the refrigeration cavity 10
  • the product is thus sucked into the cavity 10 in the gap between the two pallets 11, 12.
  • the refrigeration cavity 10 In FIG. 3, the refrigeration cavity 10 is almost full, the mobile pallet 12 being almost in abutment against the left side of the fixed pallet 11.
  • a controlled quantity of product can thus be cooled by the dispenser according to the invention, this quantity being defined by the volume of the cavity 10.
  • a vent 7 allows the air trapped in the cavity 10 to escape during this filling operation.
  • the expulsion of the cooled product from the refrigeration cavity 10 is then carried out as follows.
  • the movable pallet 12 When the cavity 10 is full of product, the movable pallet 12 is substantially in abutment against the left side of the fixed pallet 11. Once the cooling reaction is complete, the tank 50 is rotated in the opposite direction. trigonometric. The movable pallet 12 secured to the tank is then driven and is close to the right side of the fixed pallet 11. The movable pallet 12 then pushes the product, which allows the non-return valve 6 to be opened between the refrigerating cavity 10 and an external expulsion zone 55. Refrigerated product is thus expelled out of the cavity 10 for use by a consumer.
  • the admission of the product, then its expulsion, is ensured by the moving assembly 70 which drives the reservoir 50 in rotation with respect to the refrigeration cavity 10.
  • the admission of the product into the cavity of refrigeration from the tank 50 can thus be coupled with the introduction of water into the evaporator 20 to trigger the cooling reaction.
  • the drive of the mobile assembly 70 can be manual, the user turning the mobile assembly 70 in one direction and then in the other by hand.
  • a thermochromic label may be applied to an outer wall of the refrigeration cavity 10 to indicate to the user that the contents of the cavity are sufficiently cold and ready for use.
  • the drive of the mobile assembly 70 can also be partially manual, the user rotating the mobile assembly 70 to suck the product and trigger the cooling reaction, the reverse rotation of the movable assembly being for example provided by a spring released return of a stop associated with a bimetal (not shown) cooled at the same time as the product to be refrigerated.
  • the stroke of the movable element 70 must be chosen in combination with the arrangement of the rollers 66 of the peristaltic pump 65.
  • the race of the element moving in the anti-trigonometric direction (according to FIG. 3) must be sufficient to introduce into the evaporator 20 all the coolant contained between the mouth of the tube 61 in the water tank 60 and the end roller of the pump 65 of the evaporator side 20.
  • the tube sections between the rollers remain under vacuum until they open on the tank 60 where they fill with coolant for the next use of the device.
  • FIG 4 illustrates another embodiment of the product dispenser according to the invention. Elements identical or similar to Figure 1 have the same reference numbers.
  • FIG. 4 shows a refrigeration cavity 10, an evaporator 20 and a reservoir 30 containing desiccants.
  • FIG. 4 also shows a reservoir 50 of product to be refrigerated, as well as check valves 5 and 6 between the reservoir 50 and the refrigeration cavity 10 and between said cavity 10 and an expulsion zone.
  • the cooling reaction is also activated and controlled by the introduction of coolant into the evaporator 20.
  • the evaporator 20 and the pumping reservoir 30 are therefore in an open connection, the assembly being kept under vacuum.
  • a coolant reservoir 60 connected to the evaporator 20 by a tube 62 comprising a flow limiter 67.
  • the tube 62 passes through a closure assembly 63, 64, for example constituted by a bowl 63 adapted to receive a boss 64.
  • the activation and the stopping of the cooling are driven by a movable assembly 70 in translation which drives the boss 64 out of, respectively into, the bowl 63 to release, respectively pinch, the tube 62.
  • the tube is pinched, the evaporation reaction is stopped by shortage of coolant when it has finished being evaporated and pumped.
  • the cooling reaction can take place by adsorption of the vapors of the coolant introduced by the tube 62 through the flow restrictor.
  • the flow limiter makes it possible to limit the quantity of refrigerant liquid introduced to ensure adequate cooling of the quantity of product to be refrigerated.
  • the moving assembly 70 When the cavity 10 is empty of product, the moving assembly 70 is driven into a bore 71 of the distributor device delimiting the refrigeration cavity 10.
  • the volume of the cavity 10 is therefore delimited by a common wall with the evaporator 20 forming the exchanger thermal, an outer wall, a bottom forming a fixed pallet 11 and the bottom of the movable assembly constituting a movable pallet 12 in the cavity 10.
  • the movable assembly 70 is raised and the vacuum created between the fixed pallet 11 and movable 12 allows to open the non-return valve 5 between the tank 50 and the refrigeration cavity 10; and the product can thus be sucked into the cavity 10.
  • the refrigeration cavity 10 is full, the moving assembly 70 being in abutment in the high position.
  • a controlled quantity of product can thus be cooled by the dispenser according to the invention, this quantity being defined by the volume of the cavity 10.
  • the moving assembly 70 When the cavity 10 is full of product, the moving assembly 70 is above the cavity. Once the cooling reaction has been completed, the moving assembly 70 is pushed down and then pushes the product, which makes it possible to open the non-return valve 6 between the refrigeration cavity 10 and an external expulsion zone . Refrigerated product is thus expelled out of the cavity 10 for use by a consumer.
  • the admission of the product, then its expulsion, are provided by the movable assembly 70 driving the mobile pallet 12 in translation relative to the bottom 11 of the refrigeration cavity 10.
  • the admission of the product in the refrigerating cavity from the tank 50 can thus be coupled to the introduction of water into the evaporator 20 to trigger the cooling reaction; the moving assembly 70 drives the boss 64 out of the bowl 63 to release the tube 62 as it is lifted to suck product.
  • the expulsion of the product from the refrigeration cavity 10 can be coupled with the cessation of the cooling reaction; the moving assembly 70 drives the boss 64 into the bowl 63 to pinch the tube 62 as it is depressed to expel the product.
  • the cooling reaction does not stop itself when the water introduced into the evaporator 20 has been evaporated and pumped, or ultimately when the liquid reservoir refrigerant 60 is emptied but it is impossible to cool new doses of product. Indeed, when the shutter assembly 63, 34 is open, the evaporator 20 is in direct connection with the coolant reservoir 60 and the cooling reaction is stopped only when this connection is closed by closing the valve. shutter assembly 63, 64.
  • a consumer can therefore extend the cooling reaction if he wishes to receive a dose of particularly cold product, but there is a risk of inattention of the consumer who would forget the mobile assembly 70 in the up position (With reference to Figure 4) which could lead to start, or empty, the reservoir 60 and reduce the number of doses of product that can be cooled just before expulsion. It should be noted that the dispenser still operates to deliver product as long as the product reservoir 50 contains, even if the doses can no longer be cooled.
  • thermochromic label on an outer wall of the refrigeration cavity 10 may indicate to the consumer that the dose of product is ready for use.
  • the moving assembly 70 can also be driven downwards in the position of closure of the closure assembly 63, 64 by a return spring released from a stop associated with a bimetallic cooled at the same time as the product.
  • Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of the product dispenser according to the invention. Elements identical or similar to Figure 1 have the same reference numbers. The use of the terms up, down, above and below is made with reference to Figure 5 and is not limiting the implementation of the invention.
  • Figure 5 shows a refrigeration cavity 10, an evaporator 20 with a heat exchanger 25 forming a common wall between the evaporator 20 and the refrigeration cavity 10, and a reservoir 30 containing desiccants.
  • Figure 5 also shows check valves 5 and 6 between the reservoir 50 and the refrigeration cavity 10 and between said cavity 10 and an expulsion zone.
  • the cooling reaction is activated and controlled by opening and closing the connection between the evaporator 20 and the pumping tank 30.
  • the evaporator 20 contains coolant and the vapors of said liquid, in particular the evaporator is not connected to a coolant reservoir as in the embodiments described above.
  • the connection between the evaporator 20 and the pumping tank 30 containing desiccants can be opened and closed, the assembly being kept under vacuum.
  • the saturated vapor pressure in the evaporator 20 is less than 30 mbar and the pressure in the pumping tank is less than 1 mbar at 23 ° C.
  • the evaporator 20 and the pumping tank 30 when the connection between the evaporator 20 and the pumping tank 30 is open, the vapors of the refrigerant liquid are immediately pumped by the desiccant contained in the pumping tank, thereby causing cooling of the evaporator and therefore of the heat exchanger 25 which constitutes a wall of the evaporator. A certain amount of coolant is also evaporated when pumping vapors of said liquid contained in the evaporator. Thus, when the connection between the evaporator 20 and the pumping tank 30 is closed, the evaporator 20 still contains coolant and vapors of said liquid.
  • the amount of refrigerant liquid placed in the evaporator is calculated for an evaporation of about 0.2 ml per dose to be cooled, a dose containing about 5 ml of product.
  • the total amount of coolant contained in the evaporator therefore depends on the size of the product reservoir 50 associated with the dispensing device.
  • the link 40 between the evaporator 20 and the pumping tank 30 comprises a communication tube 41 opening on one side into the pumping tank 30 and on the other side into the evaporator 20, preferably at the top of the evaporator, that is to say above the refrigerant liquid; thus only the vapors of the liquid can normally penetrate into the tube 41.
  • the end of the tube 41 opening into the evaporator 20 is closed off by a valve 42 with a seal 43 ensuring a seal with the pump reservoir when the connection is closed, for example an elastomer O-ring.
  • the valve 42 is actuated in opening, to open the connection between the evaporator 20 and the pumping tank 30, by a spring 44 bearing on the tube 41 or on walls of the pumping tank. At rest, the spring 44 acts on the valve 42 to release the end of the tube 41 and allow the adsorption of the vapors of the coolant.
  • the valve 42 is operated in closing, to close the connection between the evaporator 20 and the pumping tank 30, by a pressure screw 45 adapted to push the valve 42 against the stress of the spring 44.
  • a pressure screw 45 adapted to push the valve 42 against the stress of the spring 44.
  • the pressure screw 45 deforms the upper wall of the evaporator 20, shaped dome in the absence of stress; and a guide rod 46 extends between this upper wall and the valve 42 to transmit the deformation of the wall of the evaporator to the valve.
  • the guide rod 46 can pass through the valve 42 and extend into the communication tube 41 between the turns of the spring 44 and into the pumping reservoir 30 in order to keep the valve 42 centered on the tube 41 and coaxial with the opening of the pumping tank 30 and the top of the dome deformed by the pressure screw 45.
  • the pressure screw 45 can be driven by a moving assembly 70.
  • the moving assembly 70 can be rotated around the evaporator 20 and the refrigerating cavity 10 which remain fixed.
  • the moving assembly 70 drives the pressure screw 45 through a thread in a first direction to withdraw from the dome of the evaporator 20 and release the pressure exerted on the valve 42 against the spring 44 so as to initiate the cooling reaction and in the other direction to drive the dome and push the valve against the end of the tube 41 to stop the cooling reaction.
  • FIG. 5 also shows a deflector 20 disposed in the evaporator 20 and a hydrophilic layer 21 covering the inner wall of the evaporator 20 forming the heat exchanger 25.
  • the hydrophilic layer makes it possible to distribute cooling liquid along the wall heat exchange 25 to enhance the evaporation and therefore the cooling on this area.
  • the deflector does not have the function of diverting a jet of water against the heat exchanger as in the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, but makes it possible to prevent the droplets of coolant droplets directly into the heat exchanger.
  • the pumping force of the coolant vapors may be such that drops of liquid may be entrained in the desiccant and limit its adsorption capacity. It is therefore necessary to provide a baffle which allows the vapors of the coolant to be pumped to pass and returns the drops of liquid to the bottom of the evaporator.
  • Such a deflector is described in patent application EP-A-1 448 290.
  • FIG. 5 the admission and the expulsion of the product into and out of the refrigeration cavity are carried out in a manner similar to that described with reference to FIG. 3.
  • a fixed pallet and a movable pallet (not visible on the section of Figure 5 because merged with the section of the refrigeration cavity) are disposed in the refrigeration cavity 10.
  • a dose of product is sucked into the refrigeration cavity from the product reservoir 50 by rotation of the movable pallet clearing a gap between the two pallets; and this dose, once cooled, is expelled out of the refrigeration cavity by rotation of the movable pallet in the opposite direction which pushes the product out of the cavity.
  • the admission of the product, then its expulsion, is ensured by a mobile assembly 70 driving the movable pallet secured to the reservoir 50 in rotation with respect to the fixed pallet secured to the heat exchanger 25 in the cavity 10.
  • the admission of the product into the refrigeration cavity from the tank 50 can thus be coupled to the movement of the valve 42 to open the connection between the evaporator 20 and the desiccant tank 30 to trigger the cooling reaction; the moving assembly 70 simultaneously drives the moving vane to suck product and the pressure screw 45 to release the valve 42 from the reaction stress to the spring 44 which then moves the valve away from the end of the communication tube 41.
  • the expulsion of the product from the refrigeration cavity 10 may be coupled with the cessation of the cooling reaction; the moving assembly 70 simultaneously drives the movable pallet for expelling the product and the set screw to push the valve 42 against the end of the communication tube 41.
  • the pressure screw 45 or any similar element adapted to act on the position of the valve 42 with respect to the end of the communication tube 41, can be driven by a movable assembly in translation as illustrated in FIG. 4 with an inlet and an expulsion of the product in and out of the refrigeration cavity 10 coupled to this translational movement.
  • the cooling reaction does not stop by itself when the water introduced into the evaporator 20 has been evaporated and pumped, or ultimately when all the coolant has been evaporated and adsorbed but it is impossible to cool new doses of product. Indeed, when the pressure screw 45 is positioned with the valve 42 open, the coolant vapors contained in the evaporator 20 are pumped continuously until the valve 42 is closed.
  • a consumer can therefore extend the cooling reaction if he wishes to receive a dose of particularly cold product, but there is a risk of inattention of the consumer who would forget the mobile assembly 70 with the screw 45 in the high position (with reference to Figure 5) which could lead to initiate, or empty, the refrigerant liquid reserves in the evaporator 20 and thus reduce the number of doses of product that can be cooled just before expulsion.
  • a thermochromic label on an outer wall of the refrigeration cavity 10 may indicate to the consumer that the dose of product is ready for use.
  • the mobile assembly 70 can also be driven in the closed position, that is to say the depression of the screw 45 to close the valve 42 by a return spring released from a stop associated with a mechanical time delay, by example a bimetallic cooled at the same time as the product.
  • FIGS 6a and 6b illustrate another embodiment of the product dispenser according to the invention. Elements identical or similar to Figure 1 have the same reference numbers.
  • Figure 6a shows a refrigeration cavity 10, an evaporator 20 with a heat exchanger 25 forming a common wall between the evaporator 20 and the refrigeration cavity 10, and a reservoir 30 containing desiccants.
  • the evaporator 20 contains coolant and the vapors of the said liquid, in particular the evaporator, are not connected to a coolant reservoir. as for the embodiments of Figures 1 to 4; and the cooling reaction is activated by opening the connection 40 between the evaporator 20 containing the coolant and the pumping tank 30.
  • the cooling reaction is not stopped by the consumer but terminates on its own when all the coolant contained in the evaporator 20 has been evaporated and adsorbed.
  • the dispensing device according to the embodiment of Figures 6a and 6b does not include a product reservoir. Indeed, the product to be cooled, then to be expelled, is already contained in the refrigeration cavity 10.
  • mini-dose is meant a dose of product corresponding to a typical sample dose of about 3 ml, as opposed to the contents of a jar of cream such as the aforementioned ice-source® product which cools about 20 ml. of cream.
  • mini-dose is meant a dose of product corresponding to a typical sample dose of about 3 ml, as opposed to the contents of a jar of cream such as the aforementioned ice-source® product which cools about 20 ml. of cream.
  • the expulsion of the cream out of the packaging makes the use much easier, especially for a nomadic application.
  • the invention thus makes it possible to produce a product dispenser device of reduced dimensions, which is less bulky than the ice-source® product.
  • the device of Figure 6a has a diameter of about 25 mm for a length of 100 mm, while the ice-source® pot has a diameter of 8 cm for a height of 5 cm.
  • the cooling of the product contained in the refrigeration cavity 10 is activated by a push rod 47 actuating a non-return valve 42 closing an opening formed between the evaporator 20 and the desiccant reservoir 30.
  • the opening of the valve 42 thus causes the evaporation of the refrigerant liquid contained in the evaporator 20, the vapor of which is pumped by the desiccants, this evaporation then causing cooling of the evaporator and therefore of the heat exchanger 25 in contact with the refrigeration cavity.
  • Such a mechanism for communicating the evaporator 20 with the pumping tank 30 is described in the patent application EP-A-1 481 204.
  • the non-return valve 42 is actuated by the push rod 47 transmitting a displacement of at least a portion of the bottom of the pumping tank 30.
  • the bottom of the desiccant reservoir 30 has a deformable zone 80 against which the push rod 47 is in support.
  • the deformable zone 80 is depressed, using a button 81 placed in a cap 82 screwed into the bottom of the envelope of the device according to the invention.
  • the button 81 depresses the deformable zone 80 which drives the rod 47 upwards and pushes the valve 42 to the open position. Screwing the cap 82 of release of the deformable zone allows triggering effortlessly for the consumer.
  • the deformation of the deformable zone 80 with the finger would require a relatively large effort; it is understood, however, that the deformable zone 80 may be depressed with the finger or with any mechanism other than the cap 82 and the button 81 illustrated.
  • the evaporator 20 does not have a deflector as in FIG. 5, since substantially all the coolant is contained in the hydrophilic porous layer 21 distributed along the wall of the heat exchanger 25; there is therefore no risk of splashing droplets towards the adsorbent. Indeed, given the small amount of product to be refrigerated, about 0.3 ml of water is sufficient. The integration of a deflector remains however possible if necessary.
  • FIG. 6b shows a possible embodiment for expelling the product from the refrigeration cavity 10 of the device of Figure 6a.
  • a fixed pallet 11 and a movable pallet 12 are arranged in the refrigeration cavity 10.
  • the fixed pallet 11 is integral with the heat exchanger 25 and the movable pallet 12 is integral with a movable assembly 70 consisting for example of a cap mobile in rotation on the top of the device envelope.
  • the moving assembly 70 may have an expulsion orifice of the product 72 closed by a stopper 73 clipped or screwed, as shown in Figure 6a.
  • the consumer removes the cap 73 and turns the movable cap 70 which will drive the movable pallet 12.
  • the rotation of the pallet 12 pushes the product out of the cavity 10 through the expulsion orifice 72 where the consumer can collect it.
  • FIG 7 illustrates another embodiment of the product dispenser according to the invention. Elements identical or similar to Figure 1 have the same reference numbers.
  • Figure 7 shows a refrigerating cavity 10 and a tank 50 of product to be refrigerated, as well as non-return valves 5 and 6 between the tank 50 and the refrigeration cavity 10 and between said cavity 10 and an expulsion zone.
  • Figure 7 also shows a moving assembly 70.
  • the cooling reaction is activated and controlled by a Peltier element 90 connected to a power supply 91.
  • a Peltier element conventionally comprises semiconductor elements between two conductive layers. The circulation of the current leads on the one hand a heat absorption at a layer, called cold face, and on the other hand a release of heat in the other layer, called hot face.
  • the cold face of the Peltier element 90 constitutes a wall of the refrigeration cavity and serves as a plane heat exchanger.
  • the hot face of the Peltier element 90 may be placed in contact with a thermal well 92, for example a water tank to keep the hot face at room temperature.
  • the mobile assembly 70 When the cavity 10 is empty of product, the mobile assembly 70 is driven into a bore 71 of the dispensing device defining the refrigerating cavity 10.
  • the volume of the cavity 10 is therefore delimited by a wall common with the Peltier element 90 forming heat exchanger 25, the bore 71, a bottom forming a fixed pallet 11 and the bottom of the movable assembly constituting a movable pallet 12 in the cavity 10.
  • the movable assembly 70 is raised and the vacuum created between the fixed pallets 11 and mobile 12 makes it possible to open the non-return valve 5 between the tank 50 and the refrigeration cavity 10; product can thus be sucked into the cavity 10.
  • the refrigerating cavity 10 is full, the movable assembly 70 being in abutment in the high position. A controlled quantity of product can thus be cooled by the dispenser according to the invention, this quantity being defined by the volume of the cavity 10.
  • the moving assembly 70 When the cavity 10 is full of product, the moving assembly 70 is above the cavity. Once the cooling has been carried out, the moving assembly 70 is pushed towards the low and then pushes the product, which allows to open the non-return valve 6 between the refrigeration cavity 10 and an external expulsion zone. Refrigerated product is thus expelled out of the cavity 10 for use by a consumer.
  • the admission of the product, then its expulsion, are provided by the movable assembly 70 driving the mobile pallet 12 in translation relative to the bottom 11 of the refrigeration cavity 10.
  • the admission of the product in the refrigeration cavity from the tank 50 can also be coupled to the activation of the Peltier element 90 to trigger the cooling reaction; the moving assembly 70 is shaped to actuate an on / off switch button 74 which is configured to energize the Peltier element when it is not depressed by the movable member 70.
  • expulsion of the product from the refrigeration cavity 10 may be coupled with stopping of the cooling reaction; the moving assembly 70 depresses the switch 74 to interrupt the energizing of the Peltier element 90 when depressed to expel the product.
  • the cooling by a Peltier element 90 can be associated with another mode of admission and expulsion of the product into and out of the refrigeration cavity 10, for example with a rotating element as described with reference to FIGS. 3, 5 and 6.
  • the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described by way of example; thus, the different modes of cooling and admission / expulsion of the product can be combined with each other differently from the implementations described with reference to the figures.
  • the shape and arrangement of the elements of the dispensing device may vary, in particular the shape and location of the product reservoir relative to the refrigeration cavity.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Coating Apparatus (AREA)
EP05290394A 2005-02-22 2005-02-22 Abgabevorrichtung eines Produktes und Kühlverfahren Withdrawn EP1703236A1 (de)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05290394A EP1703236A1 (de) 2005-02-22 2005-02-22 Abgabevorrichtung eines Produktes und Kühlverfahren
PCT/FR2006/000187 WO2006090038A1 (fr) 2005-02-22 2006-01-27 Dispositif distributeur de produit et procede de refrigeration
US11/816,698 US20080141682A1 (en) 2005-02-22 2006-01-27 Product Dispensing Device and Refrigeration Method
JP2007555656A JP2008531246A (ja) 2005-02-22 2006-01-27 製品吐出装置および冷却方法

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05290394A EP1703236A1 (de) 2005-02-22 2005-02-22 Abgabevorrichtung eines Produktes und Kühlverfahren

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1703236A1 true EP1703236A1 (de) 2006-09-20

Family

ID=34941965

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05290394A Withdrawn EP1703236A1 (de) 2005-02-22 2005-02-22 Abgabevorrichtung eines Produktes und Kühlverfahren

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20080141682A1 (de)
EP (1) EP1703236A1 (de)
JP (1) JP2008531246A (de)
WO (1) WO2006090038A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9630767B2 (en) 2013-05-14 2017-04-25 Icp Adhesives And Sealants, Inc. Temperature indicating foam gun nozzles and hoses
US9233385B2 (en) * 2013-05-14 2016-01-12 Fomo Products, Inc. Temperature indicating foam gun nozzles and hoses

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0314209A2 (de) * 1987-10-28 1989-05-03 BRAVO S.p.A. Speiseeisspender mit einem Einweg-Eiscremebehälter
WO2000064301A2 (en) * 1999-04-23 2000-11-02 Istituto Profilattico Italiano Torino-I.P.I.T. S.R.L. Procedure and device for the application of cosmetic products at controlled temperatures below room temperature
DE19929446A1 (de) * 1999-06-26 2000-12-28 Knopf Karl Horst Peltier-Kühler für 5-l-Partybierdosen
WO2004100704A1 (en) * 2003-05-15 2004-11-25 Icetec. Inc. Cosmetic container having a cooling device

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5050777A (en) * 1990-01-02 1991-09-24 Whirlpool Corporation Ice dispenser conveying apparatus having a rotating blade auger that operates in connection with a baffle opening to prevent wedging of ice bodies therebetween
US5149551A (en) * 1990-10-30 1992-09-22 Quixpenser, Inc. Apparatus for and method of dispensing food product such as hard ice cream
EP1562009A1 (de) * 2004-02-06 2005-08-10 Thermagen S.A. Betätigungsvorrichtung für eine selbstkühlende Verpackung
EP1647786B1 (de) * 2004-10-18 2008-06-18 Thermagen Selbstkühlende Flasche

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0314209A2 (de) * 1987-10-28 1989-05-03 BRAVO S.p.A. Speiseeisspender mit einem Einweg-Eiscremebehälter
WO2000064301A2 (en) * 1999-04-23 2000-11-02 Istituto Profilattico Italiano Torino-I.P.I.T. S.R.L. Procedure and device for the application of cosmetic products at controlled temperatures below room temperature
DE19929446A1 (de) * 1999-06-26 2000-12-28 Knopf Karl Horst Peltier-Kühler für 5-l-Partybierdosen
WO2004100704A1 (en) * 2003-05-15 2004-11-25 Icetec. Inc. Cosmetic container having a cooling device

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JP2008531246A (ja) 2008-08-14
US20080141682A1 (en) 2008-06-19
WO2006090038A1 (fr) 2006-08-31

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