EP2024548B1 - Metering apparatus for flowable compositions - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a metering device for flowable compositions, in particular compositions containing detergents, cleaners and / or fragrances. Furthermore, the invention relates to containers for use in the metering device according to the invention and to a method for operating the metering device.

State of the art

The precise and appropriate dosage of flowable compositions is relevant for a variety of applications.

Especially in the household sector, the dosage of flowable substances is of increasing importance, which is primarily based on the exact and needs-controlled dosage of the corresponding active ingredients, which on the one hand the environment is conserved by resource conservation and prevention of overdose and overdoses, on the other hand, the efficiency of dosed so Active ingredients is optimized.

The document US 2004/259750 discloses a detergent dispenser comprising a dosing device. The dosing device comprises a microcontroller as a control unit, an energy source. Fig. 18 shows a sensor unit. The device also includes a fluid reservoir that can be dispensed by a pump (fluid pump).

Dosing of detergents in dishwashers

Detergents for dishwashers are often used today in the form of detergent tablets. Although the application and dosage for the user is relatively simple and convenient, the drug release from the tablets is not optimized in terms of rinsing and drying cycles of the respective dishwasher.

Dosing devices for dispensing cleaning agents during the washing cycles of a dishwasher are, for example WO2006 / 021764 known.

The dispensing of cleaning agents is controlled by a bimetal that triggers a spring mechanism upon reaching a predetermined temperature, which causes the release of cleaning agents in the dishwasher.

A major disadvantage of this metering device is its complex mechanical structure, whereby the cost of their production are high. Furthermore, the release mechanism can only be triggered by exceeding or falling below defined temperatures in the dishwasher. One way to use other parameters to trigger the release of detergent does not exist here.

Furthermore, the off WO2006 / 021764 known device not suitable to release liquid or gelatinous preparations. However, this would be particularly advantageous, since higher concentrations of active compound than in solid dosage forms such as powders or tablets can usually be realized in liquids or gels.

Dosing of detergents in washing machines

Detergents are now usually dosed via a metering drawer of the washing machine in the drum filled with laundry. The dosing is done by rinsing the dosing drawer with water, whereby the detergent is dissolved or entrained and fed into the laundry drum. The metering drawer may have three chambers, one for receiving a detergent for the pre-wash, one for receiving a detergent for the main wash and one for receiving a softener.

A problem with these dosing drawers is that the dosage of the detergent from the drawer can only be controlled to a limited extent. The usual way is immediately at the beginning of a wash cycle by rinsing the dosing drawer with water the whole in the corresponding chamber registered detergent quantity in the washing drum. An exact, time-varying dosage of detergent within a wash cycle is thus not possible.

Furthermore, so-called metering balls are known for metering detergents which can be filled with a defined amount of detergent and are added directly into the washing drum with the laundry to be cleaned. Again, there is the disadvantage that a controlled release of detergent does not occur.

Dosing of cleaning and fragrance compositions in the toilet area

The dosage of cleaning and fragrance compositions in the toilet area is currently primarily realized by so-called toilet flushing. These are single or multi-chamber containers that are hung in the toilet bowl so that when flushing the toilet bowl with water, a release of active ingredient from the toilet bowl into the toilet bowl.

Such devices are made, for example EP0828902 or DE10113036 known.

A major disadvantage of these toilet flushers is that the dosage depends essentially on the particular local flow conditions in the toilet bowl during the flushing process. However, the flow conditions may vary greatly depending on the type of toilet and the positioning of the toilet bowl in or on the toilet bowl. So it may happen, for example, that in some types of toilet no drug release from the toilet rinse takes place because the toilet bowl is not or not sufficiently covered with water during flushing and thus the dosing of the toilet rinser is not triggered.

Even if a toilet-rinse is overflowed according to use of rinse water, so this is so far from disadvantage, as it is a disturbance of the Toilet manufacturer provided water supply, whereby the flushing power of a toilet can be significantly reduced.

It would therefore be desirable to have a metering device for releasing active ingredients in a toilet bowl, which realizes an independent of the flushing of the toilet dosage of active ingredients in the toilet bowl.

Further, it would be desirable if drug release did not occur only after actuation of the rinse. For example, it would be advantageous to dose perfumes or foaming agents into the toilet bowl immediately prior to use of the toilet in order to preventively prevent the possible release of unpleasant odors during use of the toilet.

At present, it is not possible to implement a metering in the initially described applications by means of a metering device, so that at present it is still necessary to use metering devices tailored to the respective application.

Furthermore, the dosing devices described in some cases have large volumes, which is often perceived as disadvantageous for aesthetic reasons and also often presents problems from a functional point of view since, for example, the usable space in a dishwasher or in a toilet bowl is reduced.

Furthermore, it is known that many preparations, in particular washing and cleaning preparations, contain surfactants both anionic and nonionic surfactants and especially surfactant mixtures which tend to form gel phases when redissolved in water. Already at surfactant contents of 15 wt .-% and above, based on the agent, it may come in the re-dissolution of the agent in water to undesirable and dissolution-delaying gelling.

In particular, by a one-time, surge-like dosage, as today largely as. is common by washing or cleaning tablets, it may happen that during the supply of such surfactant preparations, for example, during a cleaning cycle of a dishwasher, the preparations are coated immediately after dosing in the dishwasher interior and the contact with water of gel layers, then a rapid resolution Also prevent the enclosed by the gel layer preparation. This effect is all the more pronounced, the larger the dosing amount is, which is delivered once gushing and the colder the water is in which the preparation is to be dissolved.

This may result in retarded cooking residues remaining in the dishwasher or on the dishes at the end of the wash program, and insufficient surfactant may be released during the wash cycle to provide satisfactory cleaning performance of the formulation. These detrimental effects in the metering of gel-prone surfactant formulations are not limited to the field of dishwashing, but are also known in the textile cleaning and toilet care art.

It is therefore desirable that a dosing device releases the surfactant mixtures which tend to gel in such a way that gelling is largely prevented or at least significantly reduced.

Object of the invention

It is therefore the object of the invention to prevent the disadvantages of the metering devices of the type described above and to provide a metering device which implements an exact metering of flowable compositions upon the occurrence of defined mechanical, electrical, physical and / or chemical conditions.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a metering device which liberates surfactant mixtures tending to gel in such a way that the risk of gelation is at least significantly reduced.

The object is achieved in that a metering device for flowable preparations comprises a metering device with an energy source, a control unit and a sensor unit, and at least a first container which includes a first preparation and which can be coupled to the metering device, wherein the metering device by the control unit comprises a controllable micropump having a specific delivery rate of less than 500 [1 / min], and wherein at least a second container containing a second composition is coupleable to the dosing device.

Coupling in this context means that the container can be connected to the dosing device in such a way that the interior of the container communicates with the micropump and a leakage-free removal of preparation from the container is realized.

A significant advantage of the invention is to be seen in the separation of the metering device in a metering device and in a coupled with the metering container, whereby the metering device can be used flexibly for a variety of applications.

Since the metering device does not use mechanical control elements for product release, the metering device can be miniaturized in such a way that it can also be used in applications in which the size of the metering device is critical, such as in toilet bowls or dishwasher dosing.

In the metering device, the energy source necessary for operating the metering device, a control unit, a sensor unit and at least one micropump are integrated. Preferably, the dosing device consists of a splash-proof housing that the penetration of water spray, such as it can occur, for example, when using the metering device according to the invention in a toilet bowl or a dishwasher, prevented in the interior of the metering device.

In order to ensure operation at elevated temperatures, as occur, for example, in individual washing cycles of a dishwasher, the dosing device can be formed from materials which are dimensionally stable up to a temperature of 120 ° C.

Since the preparations to be dosed may have a pH between 2 and 12, depending on the intended use, all components of the dosing device which come into contact with the preparations should have a corresponding acid and / or alkali resistance. Furthermore, these components should be largely chemically inert by a suitable choice of material, for example against nonionic surfactants, enzymes and / or fragrances

It is particularly advantageous to shed the energy source, the control unit, the sensor unit and the micropump in such a way that the metering device is substantially watertight, ie the metering device is able to function even when fully enclosed with liquid. As potting materials, for example, multicomponent epoxy, and acrylate potting compounds such as methacrylate esters, urethane-metha and cyanoacrylates or two-component materials can be used with polyurethanes, silicones, epoxy resins.

The metering device according to the invention can be used, for example, for metering cleaning agents in dishwashers or toilet bowls, washing detergents in washing machines or fragrances for improved room air.

micropump

A micropump in the sense of this application is a microsystem fluid energy machine for moving or conveying small quantities of a fluid by converting a mechanical drive power into a flow rate.

In the following, fluids are liquids and gases, as well as mixtures thereof and solids.

The delivery rate of a micropump according to the invention is usually between 50 nl and 100 ml per minute, preferably between 250 nl and 30 ml per minute, more preferably between 500 nl and 5 ml per minute.

The micropump preferably has a construction volume of less than 5 cm ³ , particularly preferably less than 3 cm ³ , particularly preferably less than 2 cm ³ .

The specific delivery rate of a micropump, formed from the ratio of delivery rate to the construction volume of a micropump, is usually less than 500 [1 / min]. The specific delivery rate is preferably between 1 and 300, more preferably between 1.5 and 200, particularly preferably between 2 and 150, with very particular preference between 2.5 and 100.

In particular surfactant-containing preparations can be metered by this selection of the specific delivery quantities, without the risk of gelation of the preparations during release.

The micropump can be selected from the group of positive displacement pumps, oscillatory pumps, diaphragm pumps, piston pumps, rotary pumps, dynamic pumps, centrifugal pumps, electrohydrodynamic pumps, electroosmotic pumps, magnetohydrodynamic pumps, surface acoustic wave pumps, capillary force pumps, electrowetting pumps , thermocapillary pumps. Particularly advantageous for the dosage of detergents and cleaners and fragrances are membrane pumps.

Diaphragm pumps usually consist of an inlet and an outlet valve in or out of a pumping chamber, which is partially formed of a pumping membrane and an actuator.

The actuator causes a compression of the pumping chamber by mechanically acting on the pump diaphragm with the inlet valve closed, whereby the fluid in the pumping chamber is conveyed out of the pumping chamber via the opened outlet valve.

When the ejection operation is completed, the outlet valve is closed and the decompression of the pumping chamber is effected by the actuator, whereby the fluid is sucked into the pumping chamber via the opened inlet valve.

It can be seen that by suitable configuration and / or control of the valves and the actuator, the conveying direction of the micropump can be influenced or reversed.

The actuator of the diaphragm pump can be selected, for example, from the group of electromotive, piezoceramic, bimetallic, memometallic, pneumatic, peristaltic, electrostatic, electromagnetic, thermal drive units.

The valves can be designed as active or passive valves. The passive valves may in particular be flapper valves, diaphragm valves or no-moving parts valves.

Depending on the field of application, the pressure-side delivery of the preparation from the metering device may be dropwise, jet-like or spray-like, diffuse or by evaporation.

In particular, in the case of preparations which tend to form deposits during prolonged storage, it may be advantageous to arrange containers containing the preparation on the pressure side of the micropump. In this configuration, only a fluid free of deposits forming substances is promoted by the micropump. It is particularly advantageous in this case to use air as the fluid.

The fluid is pumped into the container under pressure. The container has a pressure compensation valve that releases the product flow from the container when a defined pressure in the container is exceeded.

This makes it possible, in particular, to use the metering device for a wide variety of preparations without endangering the functionality of the micropump by possible deposits or reactions between two preparations.

control unit

A control unit in the sense of this application is a device which is suitable for influencing the transport of material, energy and / or information. For this purpose, the control unit influences transducers with the aid of information which it processes in the sense of the control target.

The transducers can be, for example, micropumps and / or valves.

In particular, the control unit may be a programmable microprocessor. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of dosing programs are stored on the microprocessor, which can be selected and executed according to the container coupled to the dosing device.

The control unit has, in a preferred embodiment, no connection to the possibly existing control of the household appliance. Accordingly, no information, in particular electrical or electromagnetic signals, is exchanged directly between the control unit and the control of the household appliance.

For dosing preparations which are in particular prone to gelling, the control unit can be configured in such a way that on the one hand the dosing takes place in a sufficiently short time to ensure a good cleaning result and on the other hand the dosing of the preparation does not occur so quickly. This can be realized, for example, by an interval-like release, whereby the individual metering intervals are set in such a way that the corresponding metered amount dissolves completely during a cleaning cycle.

sensor unit

The sensor unit may comprise one or more active and / or passive sensors for the qualitative and / or quantitative detection of mechanical, electrical, physical and / or chemical variables, which are passed as control signals to the control unit.

In particular, the sensors of the sensor unit from the group of timers, infrared sensors, brightness sensors, temperature sensors, motion sensors, strain sensors, speed sensors, proximity sensors, flow sensors, color sensors, gas sensors, vibration sensors, pressure sensors, conductivity sensors, turbidity sensors, sound pressure sensors, "lab-on-a-chip Sensors, force sensors, acceleration sensors, inclination sensors, pH sensors, humidity sensors, magnetic field sensors, RFID sensors, magnetic field sensors, Hall sensors, biochips, odor sensors, hydrogen sulfide sensors and / or MEMS sensors.

The sensor unit can be designed in its simplest possible embodiment as a tilt, push or push switch.

Particularly in the case of preparations whose viscosity varies greatly depending on the temperature, it is advantageous for volume or mass control of the metered preparations to provide flow sensors in the metering device. Suitable flow sensors may be selected from the group of orifice flow rate sensors, electromagnetic flowmeters, Coriolis mass flow rate measurement, vortex flowmeter, ultrasonic flow rate measurement, variable area flow measurement, annular piston flow measurement, thermal mass flow measurement, or differential pressure flow measurement.

It is also conceivable for a temperature-dependent viscosity curve of at least one preparation to be deposited in the control unit, wherein the dosage is adjusted by the control unit according to the temperature and thus the viscosity of the preparation.

In a further embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for direct determination of the viscosity of the preparation is provided.

The alternatives listed above for determining the metered quantity or the viscosity of a preparation are used to generate a control signal that is processed by the control unit in such a way for controlling a micropump that essentially a constant metering of a preparation is effected.

energy source

For the purposes of this application is understood as an energy source, a component of the metering device, which is expedient to provide a self-sufficient operation of the metering suitable energy.

Preferably, the energy source provides electrical energy. The energy source may be, for example, a battery, a power supply, solar cells or the like.

It is particularly advantageous to make the energy source replaceable, for example in the form of a replaceable battery.

container

For the purposes of this application, a container is understood to mean a packaging material which is suitable for enveloping or holding together flowable preparations and which can be coupled to a dosing device for dispensing the preparation. In the present invention, at least a second container containing a second composition is coupleable to the dosing device.

Preferably, the volume ratio formed from the overall volume of the metering device and the filling volume of the container <1, more preferably <0.1, particularly preferably <0.05. This ensures that, for a given total construction volume of metering device and container, the overwhelming portion of the construction volume is taken up by the container and the preparation contained therein.

The container usually has a filling volume of <5,000 ml, in particular <1,000 ml, preferably <500 ml, more preferably <250 ml, most preferably <50 ml.

The invention is particularly suitable for dimensionally stable containers such as cups, cans, cartridges, cartridges, bottles, canisters, cans, boxes, drums or tubes, but can also be used for flexible containers such as bags or sacks, in particular if they are in accordance with the bag. be used in-bottle principle.

In particular, a container can also comprise a plurality of chambers which can be filled with different compositions from each other. It is too conceivable that a plurality of containers to a unit, for example, a cartridge is arranged. In the present invention, at least a second container containing a second composition is coupleable to the dosing device.

Examples of possible combinations of containers or chambers with the corresponding preparations are exemplified for some applications in the following table. application Container A Container B Container C Toilet freshener cleaning supplies perfume Cleaning agent A Cleaning agent B Cleaning agent A Cleaning agent B perfume Dishwasher Cleaning agent A Cleaning agent B Cleaning agent A Cleaning agent B Cleaning agent C Washing machine laundry detergent softener Detergent A Detergent B Detergent A Detergent B softener air freshener Perfume A Perfume B

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the container has an RFID tag that contains at least information about the contents of the container and that can be read by the sensor unit.

This information can be used to select a dosing program stored in the control unit. In this way it can be ensured that an optimal dosing program is always used for a particular preparation. It can also be provided that in the absence of an RFID label or an RFID label with a false or faulty identifier, no dosage is carried out by the metering device and instead an optical or acoustic signal is generated that the user to the present Error indicates.

In order to prevent misuse of the container, the containers may also have structural elements which cooperate with corresponding elements of the metering device according to the key-lock principle, so that, for example, only containers of a particular type can be coupled to the metering device. Furthermore, this configuration makes it possible for information about the container coupled to the dosing device to be transmitted to the control unit, as a result of which control of the dosing device coordinated with the contents of the corresponding container can take place.

preparations

Preparations within the meaning of these applications are flowable compositions containing at least one substance from the group of detergents, detergents and / or fragrances.

The preparations preferably contain surfactants, particularly preferably nonionic surfactants, wherein the weight proportion of nonionic surfactants in the overall preparation is preferably 0.5-40% by weight, more preferably 1-15% by weight, particularly preferably 5-10% by weight.

reference numeral

1

metering

2

dosing

3

energy

4

control unit

5

sensor unit

6

micropump

7

pressure line

8th

suction

9

container

10

preparation

11

Pressure equalization valve

11a

check valve

12

Pressure equalization valve

13

container

14

preparation

15

Valve

16

Valve

17

pressure line

18

suction

19

micropump

42

RFID tag

43

Dispensing device (nozzle)

44

display

List of Figures

Fig.1

Dosing device with preparation container on the suction side of the micropump

Fig.2

Dosing device with preparation container on the pressure side of the micropump

Figure 3

Dosing device with two-chamber preparation container on the suction side of the micropump

Figure 4

Metering device with passive valve-controlled two-chamber preparation container on the suction side of the micropump

Fig. 4a

Dosing device with active valve-controlled two-chamber preparation container on the suction side of the micropump

Figure 5

Dosing device with two micropump-connected preparation containers

Figure 6

Flow chart for controlling the dosing device with a micropump

Figure 7

Flow chart for controlling the dosing device with a micropump and multi-chamber preparation container

Figure 8

Flow chart for controlling the dosing device with several micropumps and multi-chamber preparation container

Figure 9

Dosing device with RFID label on preparation container

Fig. 1 shows the dosing device 1 according to the invention, which consists of the dosing device 2 and a container 9 connected to the dosing device 2, a preparation 10 contained. The at least second container, which contains a second composition and can be coupled to the dosing device is in the Fig. 1 not shown.

The dosing device 2 comprises an energy source 3, a control unit 4, a sensor unit 5 and a micropump 6, these components preferably being integrated in a housing. The micropump 6 is connected to the power source 3 via the control unit 4. The control unit 4 in turn is connected to the sensor unit 5, which passes the control signals for controlling the micropump 6 to the control unit 4.

The micropump 6 has a pressure line 7 and a suction line 8, the suction line 8 being connected to the container 9 containing the preparation 10. The micropump 6 thus conveys the flowable preparation 10 via the suction line 8 from the container 9 into the pressure line 7 from where the preparation 10 is delivered to the surroundings of the metering device 1. The pressure line 7 may in particular be such, e.g. by choosing a suitable diameter, be configured to counteract gelling of the dispensed preparation.

The container 9 may have a pressure compensation valve 11 which effects a pressure equalization between the environment and the interior of the container 9 when the micropump 6 pumps preparation 10 out of the container 9.

The micropump 6 can be controlled by the control unit 4 in such a way that the conveying direction of the micropump 6 is reversed and preparation still present in the micropump 6 and the lines 7 and 8 are returned to the container 9. This backwashing can be particularly advantageous if the preparation 10, for example, for thickening and thus for bonding the lines 7 or 8 tends.

Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment of the Fig. 1 known metering device, in which the container 9 is connected on the pressure side with the micropump 6. The micro-pump 6 builds up a pressure in the container 9 by pumping ambient air into the container 9, so that the preparation is displaced from the container 9. On the preparation output side of the container 9, a valve 11 may be provided that releases the preparation 10 from the container 9 only when a defined pressure in the container 9 is reached. This can be particularly advantageous if no dropwise metering, but a defined spray or spray similar dosage should be made. The at least second container, which contains a second composition and can be coupled to the dosing device is in the Fig. 2 not shown.

In addition, a check valve 11a may be arranged between the micropump 6 and the container 9 in the pressure line 7, which prevents the pressure built up in the container 9 from escaping through the pressure line 7 when the micropump 6 is at a standstill.

Figure 3 shows that off Fig.1 known metering device 2, in which a two-chamber container, which is formed from the containers 9 and 13, is connected to the suction line 8 of the micropump 6. The containers 9 and 13 each contain mutually different compositions 10 and 14.

The containers 9 and 13 may each have pressure equalizing valves 11,12.

The bottom-side discharge openings of the containers 9 and 13 are connected to the suction line 8 and the micropump 6 such that the preparations 10 and 14 are pumped in defined proportions to each other through the suction line 8. For this purpose, it may be necessary to design the flow conditions in the leading to the bottom-side discharge openings of the container 9 and 13 pressure lines 8 accordingly.

When using more than two different preparations 10 and 14, it is advantageous to control the dosage such that in each case two mutually compatible preparations are successively conveyed through the lines 7, 8 and the micropump 6.

The incompatibility of two preparations may be due to an exetherme reaction, thickening, flocculation, pH change, color change or the like, for example.

Furthermore, a third container may be provided which contains a flushing fluid that cleans the lines 7, 8 and the micropump 6 of at least one of the preparations 10, 14. For flushing the lines 7, 8 and the micropump 6, it is also possible to provide air. By flushing the lines 7,8 and the micropump 6 can be avoided that residues of incompatible preparations come into contact with each other.

Figure 4 shows a training of Figure 3 Known dosing 1. The leading to the bottom-side discharge openings of the container 9 and 13 pressure lines 8 in this case each have a passive valve 15 and 16, which allow a defined adjustment of the dosing of the preparations 10 and 14 from the containers 9 and 13.

The valves 15 and 16 may also be designed as temperature-sensitive bimetallic valves which open or close upon reaching a defined temperature. In particular, the valves 15 and 16 can be selected from bimetal valves which are different from one another, so that, for example, when a defined temperature is reached, only one preparation can be conveyed out of the container 9 or 13 by the micropump 6.

According to the dosing devices Fig.1-4 is common that the control unit 4 by processing the signals from the sensor unit 5 alone controls the micropump 6.

The basic control algorithm 20 is in Fig. 6 reflected in the form of a flowchart.

The control algorithm 20 is activated as soon as the dosing device 2 is switched on. In a first process step 22, the control unit 4 receives the signals of the sensor unit 5. In the control unit 4, the received sensor signal is compared with a threshold value stored in the control unit 4.

In the following process step 24, it is checked by means of a selection condition whether the sensor signal and the threshold value are in a defined relationship to one another. If the condition is fulfilled, the micropump 6 is subsequently activated by the process step 25. If the condition is not fulfilled, further sensor signals according to process step 22 are received and evaluated by the control unit.

As can be seen from the process steps 25-29, the micropump 6 remains in an activated state until a sensor signal is present which causes a switch-off of the micropump when compared with a threshold value stored in the control unit 4. According to this procedure, preparation is pumped out of the containers as long as the sensor signal moves between two predefined threshold values for switching on or off the micropump 6. application Threshold 1 Threshold 2 Dishwasher / washing machine temperature temperature temperature pH pH temperature pH pH temperature Time PH Time conductivity Time cloudiness Time

Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable to modify the control described above in such a way that a simple trigger circuit is realized in which switching on the micropump according to process step 25 causes the delivery of a defined amount of preparation in order to switch off the micropump automatically, without another one to require sensor signal-based switch-off condition for the micropump 6.

As in Fig. 4a it is also possible to design the valves 15 and 16 as components to be actively controlled by the control unit 4. The mixing ratio of the two preparations 10 and 14 can be influenced so active and time-varying.

The control underlying this embodiment is in Fig. 7 illustrated by a flowchart 30.

Another possibility for active and time-variant influencing of the mixing ratios shows FIG. 5 , In this embodiment of the invention, each of the containers 9 and 13 is coupled to a micropump 6 and 19 to be controlled individually by the control unit 4. The corresponding control algorithm is in Fig. 8 resist given.

Fig. 9 shows the off Fig. 1 known metering device, in which on the container 9, an RFID label 42 is arranged, which is adapted to identify the size and the content 10 of the container 9.

The sensor unit 5 comprises an RFID receiving unit which can read the information of the RFID label 42 arranged on the container 9. This information is sent as a control signal to the control unit 4, to a matched to the contents of the container 9 dosage of the preparation 10 to cause. In particular, the control signals caused by the RFID tag 42 can be used to select a metering program stored in the control unit.

This makes it possible to provide a universal dosing device for a variety of dosing applications such as the spielsweise the dosage of preparations in dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, toilets or living rooms.

As an alternative to the RFID tag 42, those skilled in the art may also provide other means for automatically identifying the container 9 and its contents 10 through the metering device.

Further, an additional dispensing device 43 may be provided at the pressure-side opening of the pressure line 7. This dispensing device 43 effects a distribution of the preparation deviating from the dropwise delivery into the surroundings of the dosing device 1. This may be, for example, a jet-like or spray-like delivery of the preparation or a delivery based on evaporation or diffusion. For this purpose, the dispensing device 43 can be designed, for example, as a nozzle, atomizer, distributor plate or porous surface. In particular, the dispensing device can be designed such that it counteracts gelling of the released preparations.

Fig. 10 shows those from the Fig.1-5 and Fig. 9 known dosing in a perspective view. The dosing device 2 has an interface, by means of which the container 9 can be coupled to the dosing device 2. Advantageously, this interface can be as in Fig. 10 shown to be formed as an opening into which the container 9 is inserted. For monitoring the function or the operating status, the dosing device 2 may have a display 44.

Claims (15)

1. Dosing device (1) for flowable preparations, comprising

   a) a dosing device (2) with an energy source (3), a control unit (4) and a sensor unit (5) as well as

   b) at least one first container (9) that contains a first preparation (10) and can be connected to the dosing device (2),
   wherein
   the dosing device (2) comprises a micro pump (6), which can be controlled by the control unit (4) and has a specific delivery rate of less than 500 [1/min],
   characterized in that
   at least one second container (13), which contains a second composition (14), can be connected to the dosing device (2).
2. Dosing apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (9) can be connected to the pressure side of the micro pump (6).
3. Dosing apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (9) can be connected to the intake side on the micro pump (6).
4. Dosing apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a valve (15, 16) is arranged between the container (9, 13) and the micro pump (6).
5. Dosing apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve (15, 16) is actively controllable by the control unit (4).
6. Dosing apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispensing of the preparation (10, 14) is triggered by a first micro pump (6), which can be connected to the first container (9), and a second micro pump (19), which can be connected to the second container (13).
7. Dosing apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (9) comprises an RFID label (42), which includes at least information about the content of the container (9) and which can be read out by the sensor unit (5).
8. Dosing apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dosing device (2) is embodied at least with spray water protection.
9. Dosing apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy source (3), the control unit (4), the sensor unit (5) and the micro pump (7, 19) are cast, so that the dosing device (2) is waterproof.
10. Dosing apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (4) is a programmable microcontroller.
11. Dosing apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of dosing programs is stored on the microcontroller and can be selected and executed in accordance with the container connected to the dosing device.
12. Dosing apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dosing apparatus also comprises a coupling device (7, 8) for accommodating at least one first container (9) that contains a first preparation (10).
13. Method for controlling the dosing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a dosing apparatus according to claim 1 is used, with the following steps:

    a) sensor signals are received, wherein the sensor signals contain at least information about the content of at least one container (9, 13) and/or information representing at least one physical, chemical or mechanical parameter,

    b) the sensor signals are compared with threshold values,

    c) a control signal is generated when a condition defined by comparing the sensor signals with the threshold values is met.
14. Method for controlling the dosing apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the condition defined by comparing the sensor signals with the threshold values is selected for generating a control signal according to the content of at least one container (9, 13).
15. Use of the dosing apparatus according to claim 1 for dosing flowable preparations in dishwashing machines, washing machines, toilet bowls, for room scenting or the like.

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