EP2916693B1 - Metering device - Google Patents

Description

State of the art Disclosure of the invention

The invention relates to a metering device according to claim 1 with a housing for receiving a replaceable container, wherein the container is connected to a disposable pump.

Metering devices with a housing for receiving a replaceable container, usually just a refill container, are of course long known. They are used for the controlled, rapid and automatic delivery of a mostly liquid or at least flowable substance, such as soap dispensers, antiseptic skin cleansers, liquid medical agents and the like, very often and increasingly in the food and catering sector, where, for example, drinks, juices, Sauces, soups or semi-liquid additives such as mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise and the like with the least possible handling effort, but nevertheless must be issued portioned in compliance with predetermined hygiene standards. Recently, it has just gone over because of the hygiene requirements to provide the refill itself, which contain the substances to be replenished in aseptically packaged form with already connected or at least easily connectable disposable pumps. The unique use of pumps has clear advantages, because it is well known that permanently installed pumping or delivery mechanisms are often cleaned only with great effort and provided in hygienically perfect condition for reuse can. Therefore, refill containers with associated disposable pumps are particularly useful.

The U.S. 5,836,482 shows a metering device for liquids, which is suitable for receiving containers with associated one-way pumps. This metering device has a housing for receiving a replaceable container, an electric drive motor for driving the one-way pump, control means for controlling the drive motor and influencing the pumping volume, and an electric current source for supplying power to the electric drive motor and the control means. Furthermore, the housing has a receptacle for positive retention of the disposable pump. The receptacle for positive retention of the disposable pump is designed so that the axis of the drive motor when inserting the one-way pump forcibly guided in the form-fitting holder and rotatably coupled to the axis of an impeller wheel of the disposable pump. The one-way pump is designed as a positive displacement pump and has two intermeshing impeller wheels.

The device according to the U.S. 5,836,482 is basically designed for dimensionally stable interchangeable containers, but it also shows an embodiment with a flexible bag with a one-sided molded reinforcement or holder or suspension, which serves on the one hand to provide embedded button cells for power supply, on the other hand, but also performs a holding function to prevent in that the full or partially empty flexible bag collapses. All disclosed embodiments of the U.S. 5,836,482 Therefore, show solutions in which the dimensional stability of the interchangeable container is present or maintained.

Another motorized metering device is known from the WO 2004/086731 A2 ,

Ausquetschelemente for tubular bags are known from the WO 2004/106184 A2 ,

In principle, it is the case that the collapse of a flexible refill container during the emptying process, if possible should be avoided, because it has repeatedly been shown that in case of premature collapse a relatively large proportion of the content remains in the flexible container. The resulting folding points become insurmountable leakage obstacles during bagging. The pump used is incapable of draining the contents of the container in such cases, and the resulting waste of bag and contents is, of course, highly undesirable.

The object of the present invention is to provide a generic metering device available that can accommodate simple tubular bag, which collapse in the emptying. Nevertheless, a satisfactory operation of the metering device should be ensured during the entire emptying process and the tubular bag should be at least approximately completely emptied accordingly.

This object is achieved by the feature combination of claim 1.

The solution includes that in a generic metering device that the housing of the metering device has two pivotally interconnected sub-shells, and that an elastic Ausquetschelement is attached to each partial shell, between which the tubular bag is clamped. The main advantage, of course, is that easy to manufacture, non-rigid containers, so common tube bag with relatively thin wall thickness and without specially molded suspension or other means for preserving the dimensional stability can be used. This possibility of being able to use hanger-free tubular bags is a very significant simplification and, of course, also means a great saving of material in the production of tubular bags. At the in For example, this is highly relevant for ecological reasons alone.

The present invention is basically suitable both for fixed as well as for portable or mobile embodiments. Thus, portable and even one-handed operable, to some extent pistol-like dosing devices are produced that can be used in almost any position of use.

Basically, it can essentially be assumed that non-dimensionally stable tubular pouches still have a certain inherent minimal dimensional stability when they are intact, ie before they are used. This means that at the beginning of the emptying process, there is no need for any or hardly form-supporting measures. In the course of the emptying process but these are becoming increasingly important to avoid the mentioned collapse of the tubular bag. This gradually becoming more important and effective support function is effected by the two attached to the partial shells of the housing elastic Ausquetschelement between which the tubular bag is clamped.

The Ausquetschelementen are very simple to produce, essentially flat, easily replaceable and reliable acting support elements. They are preferably arranged in a middle and upper or outlet remote part of the housing, because in tubular bags, especially in this area, the Nachfliessen the bag contents must be particularly promoted to near-outlet areas. The Ausquetschelemente in the entirety with the associated connecting elements to the partial shells of the housing are therefore preferably designed as a resilient resilient flaps or as elastic membranes, between which the non-rigid tubular bag is clamped. The resilient effect can be both known by the nature of the compound as well as by the appropriate elasticity of the selected materials and should be well known to those skilled in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, easy to install and replace guide / guide bar connections and preferably elastic plastic materials are used.

The Ausquetschelemente itself can be provided to enhance the effect with suitable ribs and other formations to urge the tubular bag contents as possible in all emptying and position conditions (the latter especially for hand-held devices) as reliably as possible in the direction of Schlauchbeutelauslass.

Fig. 1

eine Frontansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform der Erfindung,

Fig. 2

eine Rückansicht der ersten Ausführungsform mit geöffneten Teilschalen,

Fig. 3

eine räumliche Ansicht der ersten Ausführungsform mit geöffneten Teilschalen und herausgenommenen Ausquetschelementen,

Fig. 4

ein Sockelteil der ersten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 5

eine teilweise, schematische Darstellung des Antriebsteils,

Fig. 6

eine räumliche Ansicht der Ausquetschelemente in der Arbeitsstellung,

Fig. 7

eine Seitenansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform der Erfindung als Handgerät, und

Fig. 8

eine räumliche Ansicht einer dritten Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer Karussell-Ständer-Anordnung.

In the following, examples of the metering device according to the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to drawings. It shows

Fig. 1

a front view of a first embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2

a rear view of the first embodiment with open partial shells,

Fig. 3

a spatial view of the first embodiment with opened part shells and taken out Ausquetschelementen,

Fig. 4

a socket part of the first embodiment,

Fig. 5

a partial, schematic representation of the drive part,

Fig. 6

a spatial view of Ausquetschelemente in the working position,

Fig. 7

a side view of a second embodiment of the invention as a hand-held device, and

Fig. 8

a spatial view of a third embodiment of the invention in a carousel-stator assembly.

The Fig. 1 shows a front view of a first embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is suitable for placement on flat surfaces. In this dosing device has a housing 1 for receiving a replaceable flexible container (see also Fig. 2 ) on a base part. The base part essentially consists of a pump drive housing 2 and a shaft 3 projecting vertically upwards therefrom. On the shaft 3, operating elements 4 are arranged, for example pushbuttons for dispensing portions of different sizes (see also FIG Fig. 4 ). The pump drive housing 2 may have a Gehäuseausformung 5 for the drive motor 6 (see also Fig. 5 ).

The Fig. 2 shows a rear view of the first embodiment with opened part shells. In this illustration, the housing 1, which also has two pivotally interconnected part shells 7a, 7b, open. In this embodiment, the partial shells 7a, 7b are formed as half-shells. Also visible is an inserted replaceable flexible container in the manner of a tubular bag 8. The tubular bag 8 has at an outlet end 9 connected to it a disposable pump 10. The pump drive housing 2 has a receptacle 11 for positive retention of the disposable pump 10. On with the onset of Tubular bag 8 in the metering device or on the insertion of the disposable pump 10 in the receptacle 11 successful connection of the disposable pump 10 with the drive motor 6 is in connection with the 4 and 5 to be discussed further.

Furthermore, the shows Fig. 2 in the partial shells 7a, 7b nor a Ausquetschelement used therein 12a, 12b (see also the Fig. 3 and 6 ).

The tubular bag 8 is, as already mentioned, of a non-dimensionally stable type, but otherwise free of specially molded suspension or other means for preserving the dimensional stability. He is therefore of a type who collapses in the course of evacuation (when used freely), but in a filled form nevertheless suffers a certain amount, as in the case of the Fig. 2 has implied, inherent minimal dimensional stability. Such today usual tubular bags are usually closed aseptically (in the delivery state) and have at its outlet end a spout on which a closure or just a one-way pump can be screwed. Only with the screwing on or screwing the disposable pump, the film material of the tubular bag is perforated and this opened. In order to use the tubular bag in the inventive metering device, the disposable pump must of course be previously screwed onto the tubular bag. When inserting into the metering device, the tubular bag is therefore already open; however, as long as the disposable pump is not yet actuated, the tubular bag content does not escape because of the adhesion forces acting in the disposable pump.

The Fig. 3 shows a three-dimensional view of the first embodiment with opened part shells 7a, 7b and taken out Ausquetschelementen 12a, 12b. Shown here is only a slight variation of the partial shells 7a, 7b. These must not necessarily (as in Fig. 1 and 2 ) reach down to the pump drive housing 2, which at the same time may have the advantage that the residual level of the tubular bag 8 is clearly visible.

The elastic Ausquetschelemente 12a, 12b, which are not shown here separately in the installed position, but for the sake of clarity, are formed substantially flat and einschiebbar on the partial shells 7a, 7b fastened. Furthermore, it is also clearly recognizable that the elastic squeezing elements 12a, 12b are arranged in an upper or outlet-remote part of the housing 1

For fixing the Ausquetschelemente 12a, 12b to the partial shells 7a, 7b have the elastic Ausquetschelemente 12a, 12b each at least one longitudinal side depending on a guide web 13a, 13b, and the partial shells 7a, 7b each have at least one respective matching guide groove 14a, 14b. The guide webs 13a, 13b can each be inserted into the corresponding guide grooves 14a, 14b. Thus, solutions are possible in which the Ausquetschelemente 12a, 12b are fixed on one side or on both sides of the respective partial shells 7a, 7b.

The Fig. 4 shows a socket part of the first embodiment. For clarity, the sub-shells 7a, 7b have been omitted in this illustration. A little more clearly here are control buttons 15a, 15b, 15c visible, for example, with the control button 15a, the output can be started with the control button 15b a 50% reduced portion and the control knob 15c a 50% increased portion can be output. These are requirements that are common in food industry practice. It can also be seen in the Fig. 4 a built-in example in the base part display window 16 in which, for example, the discharge amount can be displayed. Of course, other or other not shown display and controls may be present.

The Fig. 5 shows a partial, schematic representation of the drive part, in a manner as they would present, if in the illustration according to Fig. 4 the pump drive housing 2 with the shaft 3 wegliesse, for clarity, however, with inserted tube bag 8. It can be seen here that in the pump drive housing 2 not only the electric drive motor 6, but also batteries 17 or batteries for powering the drive motor and the control means, and a control board 18 and a display element 19 are housed , The control board 18 may, for example, also have an adjustment knob for adjusting the dosing amount (not shown). The control means in their entirety, to which the control board 18 and the display element 19 are of course to be counted, are shown in this embodiment by way of example only. Other arrangements and configurations are possible and depending on the application of the metering device also useful. The advantage of this arrangement, however, is that the pump drive and the control means to some extent in modular form as a self-contained unit (base part with pump drive housing 2 and shaft 3) are provided, which of course facilitates the maintenance of the device us and thus reduces the cost.

The Fig. 6 shows a spatial view of Ausquetschelemente 12a, 12b in the working position. Here, too, all unimportant, but clearly apparent from the other figures and the description references for installation have been omitted for clarity. In the installed state or in the working position, a tubular bag 8 would thus be clamped between the squeezing elements 12a, 12b.

The FIG. 6 further shows that the elastic squeezing elements 12a, 12b have integral ribs 20 with configurations which, in the working position, have a squeezing action decreasing towards the center of the tubular bag and an effect urging the tubular bag contents towards the tube bag center and the tube bag outlet. For this purpose, the uppermost (ie outlet-distal) ribs 20 are the thickest and therefore also stand most in the space between the two elastic Ausquetschelementen 12 a, 12b ago. The lower (outlet closer) ribs 20 are successively thinner and are also successively less in the space before.

The FIG. 6 further shows that the elastic Ausquetschelemente have conical protrusions 21, which cause or facilitate a concentration of the tubular bag contents in the direction of the tube bag center and the Schlauchbeutelauslasses in working position. For this purpose, the conical formations 21 are designed so that they create a cavity with respect to the gap between the two elastic Ausquetschelementen 12 a, 12 b, in which the displaced by the ribs 20 ingredient can escape. The conical shape is chosen so that the clamped tubular bag 8 can always take the best possible form to increase the emptying security.

Basically, it should be noted that with respect to drainage safety, the top third to about the top half of the tubular bag has been found to be the most critical zone - depending, of course, on the effective height and shape of the tubular bag. Therefore, it is also so that the elastic Ausquetschelemente 12 a, 12 b are arranged with the ribs 20 and the conical shape 21 in the upper or Auslassfernen part of the housing (1).

Of course, it is possible that the ribs 20 and the formations 21 in details may also be designed differently. For example, the detail design could also be adapted to special tubular bag contents or their fluidity. Likewise, other, similarly acting mechanical means can be used instead of Ausquetschelemente shown.

The Fig. 7 shows a side view of a second embodiment of the inventive metering device as a hand-held device. Like the first embodiment shown also has the handset a housing 1 with two partial shells 7a, 7b. The partial shells 7a, 7b are also formed here as half shells. Furthermore, the housing 1 of the metering device designed as a hand-held device has a pump drive housing 2 at an outlet end. The pump drive housing 2 is designed somewhat differently in terms of its shape in order to take account of the ergonomic requirements of manual operation. On the housing 1, however, is a pistol grip 22 with the necessary (only indicated) controls. As mentioned earlier, the design concept with the housing shells and the elastic Ausquetschelementen is in principle also suitable for applications in an inclined position or in a horizontal position of the tubular bag, which is why metering devices in the form of handheld devices, although possibly in other detail embodiments than those in the Fig. 7 shown embodiment, can be quite useful and advantageous.

The Fig. 8 finally shows a spatial view of a third embodiment of the invention in a carousel-stand arrangement. Especially in the gastro area, for example in fast food restaurants, it may be extremely useful for the fast and well-dosed preparation of food or drink in accordance with usual standard sizes, to have whole batteries of suitable dosing available. Carousel-stand arrangements are particularly well suited here because the distances to be traveled by the operating personnel can be minimized and because the accessibility is always maintained. However, the dosing device battery shown here with a carousel-stand arrangement is only sketchily presented, because individual configurations can of course be just as different as in the previously described embodiments. As with the embodiments shown so far, each individual appliance also has a housing 1 with two partial shells 7a, 7b. The partial shells 7a, 7b are here, however, not as half shells, but as part shells unequal size educated. It should not be difficult for the skilled person to see that even with partial shells of unequal size, the previously presented concept with the elastic Ausquetschelementen is just as well feasible, albeit with different arrangement of the grooves for Ausquetschelemente. Furthermore, every single device also has a pump drive housing 2 at an outlet end.

Because it is in the in the Fig. 8 Of course, the embodiment shown is more likely to be a device for efficient commercial use, it would of course be useful to provide the power supply no longer battery-based for each individual device, but rather to provide a centralized power supply for all individual devices. The centralized power supply or the power connection will then of course be made via the carousel stand 23 of course.

Of course, it should be noted in this context that in principle in all embodiments shown an easily manageable charging device for the batteries or an electrical power connection, for example, for network operation, can be provided.

Claims (9)

1. Metering device, consisting of

   - a housing (1) for receiving a replaceable receptacle, wherein the receptacle is connected to a disposable pump (10),

   - an electric drive motor (6) for driving the disposable pump (10),

   - control means for controlling the drive motor (6) and for influencing the pump volume,

   - an electric power source or an electric connection for supplying energy to the electric drive motor (6) and the control means,

   and wherein the housing (1) additionally comprises a receiving means (11) for mounting the disposable pump (10) in a positive locking manner,
   characterized in that

   - the housing (1) comprises two part shells (7a, 7b) which are connected together so as to be pivotable and

   - that one elastic squeezing element (12a, 12b) each is fastened on each part shell (7a, 7b), between which elastic squeezing elements the replaceable receptacle is held in a clamping manner,

   wherein the elastic squeezing elements (12a, 12b) are arranged in a top part of the housing (1) or in a part that is remote from the outlet, and wherein the metering device is suitable for receiving replaceable receptacles in the manner of non-dimensionally stable tubular bags (8) without suspending means.
2. Metering device according to Claim 1, characterized in that on an outlet side of the housing (1) the metering device comprises a pump drive housing (2) in which or on which the drive motor (6) is housed or mounted.
3. Metering device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the metering device comprises a pistol grip (22) on the housing (1).
4. Metering device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the metering device is realized for fastening on a multiple-carrier device or on a carousel stand (23).
5. Metering device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the elastic squeezing elements (12a, 12b) are realized in a substantially flat manner and are fastenable on the part shells (7a, 7b) so as to be insertable.
6. Metering device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the elastic squeezing elements (12a, 12b) comprise in each case a guide web (13a, 13b) on at least one longitudinal side and said guide web is insertable in each case into a corresponding guide groove (14a, 14b) on a part shell (7a, 7b).
7. Metering device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the elastic squeezing elements (12a, 12b) which have been inserted into the guide grooves (14a, 14b) by means of the guide webs (13a, 13b) are developed as flexible flaps or act as flexible flaps, wherein the non-dimensionally stable tubular bag (8) is held in a clamping manner between the squeezing elements (12a, 12b).
8. Metering device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the elastic squeezing elements (12a, 12b) comprise integral ribs (20) with developments which in the operating position comprise a squeezing action which decreases toward the center of the tubular bag (8) and an action which presses the tubular bag contents to the center of the tubular bag and to the outlet of the tubular bag.
9. Metering device according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the elastic squeezing elements (12a, 12b) comprise conical moldings (21) which in the operating position bring about or facilitate concentration of the tubular bag contents in the direction of the center of the tubular bag and of the outlet of the tubular bag.

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