EP2141087A2 - Refillable output container for fluids - Google Patents

Abstract

The container (1) has a discharging valve (9) fastened with a housing (8) for controlling discharge capacity of the discharging valve in a valve disk (4). The valve disk is attached at a top edge (2) of the container. A filling valve (13) fills the container by sealing a connection of a filler neck with the container for supplying liquid medium and compressed gas. The filling valve comprises a through-flow hole (14) that is attached to the discharging valve. The through-flow hole is sealable by a mobile sealing part (15a) made of elastomer material.

Description

The invention relates to a refillable dispensing container for liquid media, in particular an aerosol can, in which a dispensing valve is mounted with housing for dispensing the container contents in a mounted on the upper edge of the container valve plate and in which a filling valve for filling the container by sealingly connecting a filler neck is provided with the container for supplying liquid medium and compressed gas.

An output container similar to the type described above is known from EP 0 662 431 known. In order not to discard the former spray or aerosol cans after a single use and to reduce the amount of waste, you have created a dispensing container of the type mentioned, which can be refilled after emptying with liquid media, whereby a compressed gas is introduced, which serves as a propellant gas. The filling of the known dispensing container via a filling device with a filler neck, on which the refillable dispensing container is placed. For this, the known dispensing container at its top bottom, the dispensing valve and against this at the bottom of a filling valve, with which the filler neck can be connected by placing the bottom of the filler neck. By connecting filling valve with filler, ie by placing the dispensing container down on the filler neck, filling valves were opened, so that the output container could be filled in the desired manner with liquid medium and compressed gas.

It has been found that a common dispensing container is made of no less than six individual parts, and it is particularly costly if at each dispensing container not only the topsoil, but also the opposite bottom floor had to be provided with valve means. The arrangement of dispensing valves on the top of the container has been proven and largely enforced in the market. However, the arrangement of a filling valve in the lower bottom of the container is associated with disadvantages. By additionally opening the lower bottom controlled filling valve, there is an uncertainty source. The additional filling valve in the lower floor can become dirty with the result of a leak occurring. The liquid in the container can then run down.

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to improve the output container of the type described so that it has a simpler structure with fewer items, is more economical to produce and ensures safer operation.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the filling valve has at least one attached to the dispensing valve flow hole, which is sealable by a movable sealing member made of elastomeric material. As well as the arrangement of the dispensing valve has prevailed in the topsoil of the aerosol cans, the aerosol cans, i. the so-called output container in the description, provided with a valve plate, which is attached to the upper edge of the dispensing container and in which the dispensing valve is attached. In the case of manufacturers, the construction of the valve disk and the dispensing valve located centrally in the latter has developed as a unit insofar as the valve disk practically belongs to the dispensing valve and a component, i. represents an individual part of the dispensing container, which is ultimately mounted as a unitary component. This unit of dispensing valve with housing has modified the invention in that at this same dispensing valve now at least one flow hole is attached, which is sealable. With surprising advantage of the new output container on its lower bottom no longer needs to be provided with additional items, especially not with a special filling valve. Rather, the new movable sealing member of elastomeric material provides for controlled sealing or opening of the at least one flow-through hole through which the dispensing container can be filled with liquid medium and / or gas. The skilled artisan will appreciate that the cost of the arrangement and design of the filling valve is extremely simple. As a result, the new dispensing container is not only more economical to produce, but it is also safer in operation, because even dirt on the bottom of the container are neither feared nor critical. With the new filling valve in the form of the sealable flow-through hole, a refilling of, for example, 400 ml in 8 seconds or less is possible. The performance of the new output container can thus be increased by more than 25% compared to known output containers.

The sealing member of elastomeric material is movably adjacent, on or in the flow-through hole, wherein either the pressure or a mechanical part of the filler neck can lift the sealing member off the flow-through or expel therefrom or sealingly engage the flow-through hole. This movement function of the sealing member succeeds both during sealing and when opening the Durchflußloches for filling with liquid medium. Depending on the size or number of or Durchflußlöcher succeed filling in a surprisingly short time.

The skilled artisan will recognize that the measures for building and arranging the new filling valve are surprisingly simple.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the at least one flow-through hole is located in the housing of the dispensing valve and the movable sealing member has a sealing sleeve surrounding at least the part of the dispensing valve housing having the flow-through hole. If you want the filling with liquid medium and compressed gas in less time, then larger flow channels should ensure their passage, but on the other hand also be well sealed. The flow hole provided according to the invention (it is also possible to provide a plurality of flow holes) is located in the housing of the dispensing valve in this embodiment. In other words, all means for a good and fast flow of incoming media are present in the dispensing valve itself, especially here in its housing. So that the flow hole located in this housing can be well sealed, for example in the manner of a check valve, the movable sealing member has a sealing sleeve. This surrounds at least that part of the housing of the dispensing valve, which has the flow hole. Thereby, the flow hole is covered by the sealing collar and sealed in the state in which this check valve is closed. The sealing collar surrounds the cylinder jacket-shaped part of the housing of the dispensing valve, which has the flow-through, from the outside, so that pressure from outside the sealing sleeve provides a sealing closure of the check valve, while an internal pressure causes an opening, because the sealing collar from the flow-through takes off and releases the latter.

It is also possible to fill spray cans with the channels and openings present in the dispensing valve, if sufficient pressure is applied to the dispensing valve from above and sufficient time is available for filling. Due to the additional flow hole in the housing of the dispensing valve, the mentioned additional inflow channel is provided for filling medium. By attaching several Durchflußlöcher the inflow is advantageously increased.

Conveniently, in a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sealing collar can be surrounded by a fixing ring. It is particularly advantageous if the sealing collar is provided to its inner end with a flange-like thickening, whereby a step is formed. Appropriately arranges the fixing ring in this stage and thus holds the sealing sleeve very reliable and yet easy.

It is advantageous according to a further embodiment of the invention, when the at least one flow hole in the dispensing valve encompassing annular surface of the valve disc is mounted, which lies in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis of the dispensing container level. In general, the dispensing container is like many known spray or aerosol cans a substantially cylindrical, elongated hollow body. It is easy to think through the middle of a longitudinal central axis. The footprint of such a dispensing container (spray can) is to think in a plane which is perpendicular to this longitudinal central axis. The annular surface of the valve disk, which encompasses the dispensing valve, runs parallel to this level of support. In this annular surface of the valve disk is sufficient space to arrange one or more Durchflußloch / holes.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the invention provides for the sealing part to have at least one flow-through pin which penetrates through at least one through-hole and which can be applied in a sealing manner against the edge of the flow-through hole. By the example punched or drilled circular flow hole (or through the multiple flow holes) should flow during filling the liquid medium and the compressed gas as long as the sealing member, in this preferred embodiment, the flow pin, the flow hole releases. In the case of the flow pin described here, for example, it can be wholly or partly pushed out of the respective flow hole, so that liquid and gases can flow through it. If the dispensing container filled with the desired amount of liquid and the compressed gas at the desired pressure, then the flow pin is sealingly applied against the edge of the flow-through hole. The pin then reaches through the hole. On the other hand, after the emptying of the dispensing container, the filler neck of the filling device is pressed onto the valve disk, then an edge or pin provided on the filler neck ensures that the flow-through pin made of elastomeric material is again forced out of the throughflow hole for filling.

It is favorable in this embodiment of the sealing member with the flow-through pin, when this (the flow-through pin) is surrounded in its root region by an O-ring seal. Looking at the flow-through pin in cross-section, one can imagine a pen-like narrower body widening towards the root of the pin (generally downwards). In cross-section results in a shape in the manner of an inverted T. On the crosspiece of this T then sits on this O-ring seal. It is held by the transverse web-shaped part of the flow-through pin and pressed against the edge thereof in the sealing engagement of the flow-through hole. This results in an effective seal.

It has proven to be favorable in a further practical embodiment, when the flow-through pin is articulated to a fixing ring surrounding the housing of the dispensing valve. The fixing ring is suitably made of the same elastomeric material as the flow-through, so that it can be produced correspondingly cheaper with the flow-through pin as a single molded part. Through the fixing ring of the hinged flow pin can be reliably and yet movably attached.

It is expedient if, in a further embodiment of the invention, the articulation of the flow pin on the fixing ring via a film hinge. In the injection molding film hinges are known and technically easy to control. The flow pin can be fastened or articulated to the fixing ring in different degrees of stiffness.

For the preferred embodiment described here with the flow-through pin as the sealing part, it is furthermore expedient for a plurality, preferably four, to be radially outward on the fixing ring extending film hinges are articulated with flow pins. In this way, the area for the flow of the liquid to be filled can be drastically increased with the result correspondingly short filling times for large volumes of liquid. A mold for the molding of the above-described fixing ring with the plurality of hinged flow pins is easy to produce.

Particularly safe is the penetration of the fixing ring when it rests in a further embodiment of the invention on the inner surface of the annular surface of the valve disk. By attaching the valve disc at the edge of the top of the dispensing container said inner surface of the annular surface of the valve disc is a solid and reliable support against which the fixing ring can be applied and optionally attached.

In another, also very expedient embodiment it is provided that the sealing member has an annular, the housing of the dispensing valve encompassing flat gasket, which is sealingly above the at least one flow hole. This flat gasket has over the embodiment with the flow pins or the sealing sleeve the further advantage that it needs to be oriented during assembly with respect to the dispensing valve and not even with respect to the valve disk. The flat ring of elastomeric material forming the sealing member need only be placed over the housing of the dispensing valve and pushed up over the housing so that it lies sealingly over the through-hole or over-flow holes. The surface of this gasket is relatively large, and it results from the usual internal pressure, under which the filled, liquid medium is, a good sealing force. Practical experiments have shown that even with an overpressure of 1 bar in the output container, a good seal of Durchflußlöcher can be ensured. The expert knows, however, that the filling pressure of conventional spray cans is even 6 to 7 bar. Obviously, an excellent sealing force also results in this embodiment of the flat gasket.

A further advantageous embodiment of an embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the flat gasket between the annular surface of the valve disk and a housing surrounding the dispensing valve encompassing fixing ring is arranged. When mounting it is sufficient, as practice has shown, to clamp the fixing ring only on the housing of the dispensing valve. He then sits firmly against the gasket and holds it reliably on the annular surface of the valve disk.

While in the above-mentioned embodiment of the sealing member in the form of a Durchflußstiftes the opening of the latter is predominantly mechanically, for example by depression by means of an edge on the filler neck, it can be the flow hole in the embodiments with the flat gasket and with the sealing sleeve thereby reveal or open that from the filling side a pressure with the liquid medium and / or the compressed gas takes place, which is higher than the pressure in the dispensing container to be filled. As a result, the flat gasket or the sealing collar lifts off in the region of the flow-through hole or of the through-flow holes, and the medium can flow into the dispensing container in the desired manner. In none of the embodiments described herein does one have to use a special tool to expose or open the flow hole.

Figur 1

im Querschnitt und abgebrochen den oberen Bereich eines Ausgabebehälters mit Ventilteller und auf dem Ventilstift aufgesetzten Sprühkopf, wobei das Abdichtteil in Form eines ein Durchflußloch durchgreifenden Durchflußstiftes dargestellt ist,

Figur 2

die Querschnittsansicht des Ventiltellers mit Ausgabeventil, wobei das angebrachte Steigrohr abgebrochen dargestellt ist,

Figur 3

eine Draufsicht auf den Ventilteller mit Durchflußstift, wenn man zum Beispiel in Figur 2 von links nach rechts blickt,

Figuren 4a - 4d

Ansichten des Abdeckteils mit Durchflußstift, wobei Figur 4a eine Draufsicht auf den Fixierring mit angelenktem Durchflußstift ist, Figur 4b die gleiche Ausführungsform mit vier Durchflußstiften darstellt, Figur 4c eine Schnittdarstellung des Fixierringes mit dem einen Durchflußstift entlang der Linie IVc-IVc in Figur 4a und Figur 4d eine Querschnittsansicht der Ausführungsform des Fixierringes mit vier Durchflußstiften entlang der Linie IVd-IVd der Figur 4b darstellt.

Figur 5a

eine ähnliche Querschnittsdarstellung wie Figur 2, wobei jedoch das Abdichtteil als Flachdichtung ausgeführt ist,

Figur 5b

eine ähnliche Querschnittsdarstellung wie Figur 5a, wobei sich jedoch das Durchflußloch im Gehäuse des Ausgabeventils befindet, und

Figur 6

eine schematische Ansicht des Ausgabebehälters mit grob gezeigten Teilen des Füllgerätes.

Further advantages, features and possible applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In these show:

FIG. 1

in cross-section and broken off the upper portion of a dispensing container with valve head and placed on the valve pin spray head, wherein the sealing member is shown in the form of a flow-through a through-flow pin,

FIG. 2

the cross-sectional view of the valve disk with discharge valve, wherein the attached riser is shown broken off,

FIG. 3

a plan view of the valve plate with flow pin, if for example in FIG. 2 from left to right,

FIGS. 4a-4d

Views of the cover with flow pin, wherein FIG. 4a is a plan view of the fixing ring with articulated flow pin, FIG. 4b represents the same embodiment with four flow pins, Figure 4c a sectional view of the fixing ring with the one flow-through along the line IVc-IVc in Figure 4a and Figure 4d a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the fixing ring with four flow pins along the line IVd-IVd of FIG. 4b represents.

FIG. 5a

a similar cross-sectional view as FIG. 2 but wherein the sealing member is designed as a flat gasket,

FIG. 5b

a similar cross-sectional view as FIG. 5a but with the flow hole in the housing of the dispensing valve, and

FIG. 6

a schematic view of the dispensing container with roughly shown parts of the filling device.

FIG. 1 shows in cross section the broken off upper part of a refillable dispensing container 1. At the upper edge 2 of this container 1, a valve plate 4 is attached via a seal 3. Centered in the output container 1 is indicated by dashed lines whose longitudinal center axis 5, parallel (coaxial) to which the riser 6 extends from the lower inner region of the container 1 to the lower inner nipple 7 of the housing 8 of the dispensing valve 9. From this discharge valve 9, the valve pin 10 extends upward. A spray head 11 is attached to this valve pin.

For filling this spray head 11 is withdrawn, as in the illustrations except FIG. 1 is shown.

The first embodiment of filling valve is in the FIGS. 1 to 4d shown. The filler neck 12 is only schematically in FIG. 6 shown, he is just like the filling device not shown.

In the unit with dispensing valve 9 and valve plate 4 is also the generally designated 13 filling valve. This is a valve with a provided in the valve plate 4 through hole 14 which is sealable by a movable sealing member 15a, 15b of elastomeric material.

The valve disk 4 engages in the middle of the housing 8 of the dispensing valve 9 and is crimped for attachment to the housing 8 from the outside inwards, as in the Figures 2 and 5a at 16 (Crimplinie) is indicated. From this crimping line 16 radially outward, the dispensing valve 9 enclosing annular surface 17 of the valve plate 4 connects. This annular surface 17 is located in a thinking, in FIG. 5a Dashed line indicated plane 18 perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis 5 of the output container. 1

In said first embodiment according to the FIGS. 1 to 4 is the sealing member 15 a (in contrast to the second embodiment 15 b of FIG. 5a ) a Durchflußstift 15 a ', which passes through the respective flow hole 14. The flow pin 15a 'is in the sealing state against the edge of the flow hole 14 at. This condition can be seen in particular in the FIGS. 1 and 2 , In these and the cross-sectional views of Figures 4c and 4d recognizes the root portion 19 of the flow pin 15 a '. The sealing function is particularly favorable when an O-ring seal 20 surrounds the flow-through pin 15a 'at its root region 19.

So that the flow pin 15a 'is movable relative to the flow hole 14, but on the other hand is hinged to the output valve 9 reproducible, it is provided that the flow pin 15a' is articulated to a fixing ring 21 which surrounds the housing 8 of the discharge valve 9. The articulation takes place via a film hinge 22. While on the fixing ring 21 after the FIG. 4a a single flow pin 15a 'is hinged over the film hinge 22 are in the embodiment of the Figures 4b and 4d four radially outwardly extending film hinges 22 hinged to these outside flow pins 15a '.

From the cross-sectional view of FIGS. 1 and 2 it can be seen that the fixing ring 21 rests against the inner surface 23 of the annular surface 17 of the valve disk 4.

FIG. 5a shows another preferred embodiment, according to which the sealing member 15b is an annular, the housing 8 of the dispensing valve 9 embracing flat gasket 15b, which according to the left side of the FIG. 5a is above the flow hole 14 and this seals. The housing 8 of the dispensing valve 9 is also surrounded by the interior of the container 1 through a fixing ring 21 '. Between this and the annular surface 17 of the valve disk 4, the flat gasket 15b 'is clamped.

FIG. 5b is a similar view in many parts as FIG. 5a Therefore, the matching features and parts will not be described again here.

The difference is that in FIG. 5b in the valve disk 4 is not a through hole in the said dispensing valve 9 encompassing annular surface 17 is present. It also lacks the flat gasket 15b, 15b 'and from the bottom outside patch fixing ring 21'. Instead, in the embodiment, the surrounds FIG. 5b the sealing collar 24, the housing 8 of the dispensing valve 9. The sealing sleeve has an axial length which corresponds to almost half the axial length of the housing 8. Therefore, the sealing sleeve 24 also does not project beyond this housing 8. In the central region of the dispensing valve 9, where approximately the crimping line 16 is located, the sealing collar 24 ends in the form of a flange-like thickening 25, through which a shoulder is formed down into the interior of the aerosol can. In this, the fixing ring 21 and holds the sealing sleeve firmly on the outer surface of the housing 8. The housing 8 has below the fixing ring 21, the flow-through hole 14 mentioned. By relinquishing excess pressure from within the housing 8, the sealing collar 24 lifts off from the flow hole and releases the latter completely or partially for filling. After completion of the applied pressure on the inside of the housing 8 in the discharge valve 9 immediately puts the sealing sleeve 24 back to the edge of the flow hole 14 and seals it off.

Schematically shows FIG. 6 how the dispensing container 1 can be filled. From above, a filler neck 12 is pressed by turning the lever 24 in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot point 25 on top of the valve disk 4 and partially in its annular groove via a lever 24. This is in the embodiment of the FIGS. 1 to 4 the flow pin 15a 'from the flow hole 14 wholly or partially pushed out so that the hole 14 is exposed and liquid medium can be pressed into the dispensing container 1. This filling process is initiated by the valve 26, which is opened shortly after the sealing attachment of the filler neck 12 on the valve plate 4, characterized in that the right end 27 of the lever 24 presses up against the pin 28 of the valve 26.

In the other embodiments according to the FIGS. 5a and 5b the triggering of the filling process takes place in almost the same way, but with the difference that there the flat gasket 15b 'is lifted by the pending outside the dispensing container 1 pressure from the flow hole 14.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

output tray

2

upper edge

3

poetry

4

valve disc

5

Longitudinal central axis

6

riser

7

nipple

8th

casing

9

dispensing valve

10

valve pin

11

spray nozzle

12

filling

13

Filling

14

throughflow

15, 15a, 15a '

Flow pin (sealing part)

15, 15b, 15b '

Flat seal (sealing part)

16

Crimplinie

17

Ring surface of the valve disk

18

level

19

Root area of the flow pin

20

O-ring seal

21

fixing

22

film hinge

23

inner surface of the annular surface

24

sealing sleeve

25

flange thickening

Claims (12)

Refillable dispensing container (1, 1 ', 1 ", 1''') for liquid media, in particular aerosol can, in which a dispensing valve (9) with housing (8) for dispensing the container contents in one at the upper edge (2) of the container (1) attached to the valve plate (4) is attached and in which a filling valve (13) for filling the container (1) by sealingly connecting a filler neck (12) with the container (1) for supplying liquid medium and compressed gas is provided
characterized in that
the filling valve (13) comprises at least one flow hole (14) attached to the dispensing valve (9) and sealable by a movable sealing member (15a, 15b) of elastomeric material. A dispensing container according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one flow hole (14) is in the housing of the dispensing valve (9) and the movable sealing part (15a, 15b) has at least the part of the housing (8) of the flow hole (14) Output valve (9) surrounding sealing sleeve (24). Dispensing container according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing collar (24) is surrounded by a fixing ring (21). Dispensing container according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one throughflow hole (14) is arranged in the annular surface (17) of the valve disk (4) which surrounds the dispensing valve (9) and which is located in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis (5) of the dispensing container (1 ) extending level (18) is located. Dispensing container according to Claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the sealing part (15a) has at least one flow-through pin (15a ') which extends through the at least one flow-through hole (14) and can be applied in a sealing manner against the edge of the flow-through hole (14). Dispensing container according to one of claims 1, 4 or 5, characterized in that the flow-through pin (15a ') in its root region (19) is surrounded by an O-ring seal (20). Dispensing container according to one of Claims 1 and 4 to 6, characterized in that the flow-through pin (15a ') is articulated on a fixing ring (21) encompassing the housing (8) of the dispensing valve (9). Dispensing container according to one of Claims 1 and 4 to 7, characterized in that the articulation of the flow-through pin (15a ') on the fixing ring (21) takes place via a film hinge (22). Dispensing container according to one of claims 1 and 4 to 8, characterized in that a plurality, preferably four, radially outwardly extending film hinges (22) with flow pins (15a ') are articulated on the fixing ring (21). Dispensing container according to one of claims 1 and 4 to 9, characterized in that the fixing ring (21) bears against the inner surface (23) of the annular surface (17) of the valve disk (4). Dispensing container according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the sealing part (15b) has an annular, the housing (8) of the dispensing valve (9) embracing flat gasket (15b ') which sealingly over the at least one flow hole (14). Dispensing container according to one of Claims 1, 4 or 11, characterized in that the flat seal (15b ') is arranged between the annular surface (17) of the valve disk (4) and a fixing ring (21) encompassing the housing (8) of the dispensing valve (9) is.

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