EP3212333A1

EP3212333A1 - Stocking device and method for removing a product

Info

Publication number: EP3212333A1
Application number: EP15754104.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bernhard Felten
Original assignee: Beiersdorf AG
Current assignee: Beiersdorf AG
Priority date: 2014-10-31
Filing date: 2015-07-21
Publication date: 2017-09-06
Anticipated expiration: 2035-07-21
Also published as: EP3212333B1; WO2016066151A1; DE102014016261A1; DE112015004980A5

Abstract

The invention relates to a stocking device (10) for stocking and dispensing products, comprising a structure formed substantially of a container (200) for stocking a product, a dispensing device (100), and comprising an actuating mechanism (300) having an actuating lever (310) for activating and/or metering the removal of product from the container (200) by means of the output device (100), wherein the actuating lever (310) can be pivoted between a first pivoting position and at least a second pivoting position by means of a pivoting device (400). The invention further relates to a method for removing a product from the stocking device (10).

Description

Storage device and method for product removal

The invention relates to a storage device for storing and dispensing products with a structure formed essentially of a container for storing product and an output device, and an actuating mechanism comprising an actuating lever for activating and / or dosing product removal from the container by the dispensing device. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for removing product from the storage device.

In order to be able to partially or completely remove a product stored in a container, various concepts have been implemented, which are based on the criteria of safe and controlled handling for removal, on the nature and consistency of the product, the shape and state of aggregation in which the respective Product is storable, and based on the storage conditions. The products frequently stored in a container are liquids. In many cases, the liquid product should be emitted as an aerosol, ie as droplet mist in a gas. Examples include spray paints, deodorants, hair sprays, adhesives, disinfectants and air fresheners. The stocking in these cases takes place in aerosol dispensers having a pre-filled, gaseous propellant to pressurize the contents of the container and to deliver the product as an aerosol in the form of a spray when an actuator is triggered by the user.

Aerosol dispensing systems are often preferred over manually operated pumping systems that are not biased by a pressurized propellant, because these systems dispense a continuous spray of a product, requiring little energy for dispensing, to facilitate easy adjustment of dispensing of the product and typically produce finer sprays than the manually operated pumping systems due to the higher pressure.

In addition to the storage of liquid products, storage facilities may also store other, flowable substances or solid products in particle form. The applications of aerosol dispensers are always opened when the product is suitable to be present as a dispersion in a gas or transportable within a volume flow. These conditions usually apply to the aforementioned liquid products. Other product aggregate conditions or properties such as thixotropic substances or creams, shaving cream or dispersed solid particles such as graphite-containing lubricants can also be stored and dispensed under pressure conditions, in which case no longer can be spoken of an aerosol product dispensing.

The basic structure of an aerosol dispenser essentially comprises three components: the container for storing product and, if appropriate, propellant, an output device for the controlled removal of product and the actuating mechanism required for the dispensing device. Is the container designed as a pressure vessel and the storage is realized under pressurization by, for example, a propellant, a valve is practically always provided as an output device. For example, US 2631814 A describes a suitable valve assembly for the stated purpose.

According to this prior art, when pressing on the actuating mechanism in the form of a spray head, the valve is opened and the product flows under the action of the propellant gas pressure from the container through the valve and the spray head into the environment. Depending on the pressure, propellant gas component and viscosity of the product, a spray jet or an aerosol is produced.

In order to simplify the handling and to improve the design, various modifications have been made to the spray head according to the prior art, mostly while maintaining the preferably lateral spray direction. A lateral spraying direction is generally understood to mean a product discharge direction radial with respect to the container center axis.

Often, the spray head has a separate protective cap to secure it from accidental operation. Other ways to prevent inadvertent actuation have been found by a rotational position-dependent stop function of the spray head or by subordinate arrangement of the spray head in a housing, so that the operation is possible only by grasping or pressing the spray head into a housing pocket.

The handling is determined in addition to the manner of the actuating mechanism continues from the desired removal direction of the product in conjunction with the spray direction of the spray head. For example, in order to apply a deodorant from the aerosol dispenser under the armpit, on the one hand, the container must be covered by hand and on the other hand must act with an acting as an actor finger, preferably with the index finger or the thumb, on the spray head as an actuating mechanism for the valve is pressed. Before operating the mechanism, it is necessary to align the aerosol dispenser with the spray head. - -

In addition to the product centering radial direction with respect to the container center axis by means of a laterally aligned spray head, it is also aligned with the container center axis, i. axial product dispensing directions in the prior art realized. This is the case, for example, with air freshener products - in which dispensing heads have been developed which spray vertically upwards and in the axial direction of the container. Such a construction is described in US 20060118658 A1.

EP 1 608 571 B1 describes an aerosol dispenser with a product dispensing direction in the axial direction aligned with the container center axis, which has an actuating lever arranged laterally of the dispenser. To prevent the risk of handling unintentional actuation, it is provided that an actuation lock is activated or deactivated by a rotary cap. This lock is of considerable importance, in particular, because the actuating lever always projects beyond the contour of the aerosol dispenser base structure, both in its rest position, even when the maximum actuating lever travel is reached. Without the actuation lock, the removal of the product would therefore be possible at any time and therefore also uncontrollably or unintentionally.

The realization of the actuating device in the form of a lateral actuating lever has established itself with regard to the feel, grip ergonomics and dosage of the product delivery quantity. However, there are a number of disadvantages due to the design of the lever as well as the contour of the aerosol dispenser laterally projecting element.

The disadvantage is that the lever is exposed by the position as a lateral projection of an increased risk of breakage. In particular, during transport and handling before the actual product removal by the lever operation is a massively increased risk that is deflected by collisions of the lever on its load limit side or loaded and breaks off. According to the prior art, it is particularly disadvantageous that an unintentional actuation, for example during a transport of the container in the case of a lever that protrudes constantly laterally, is possible. Thus, there is both the risk of damage to the lever and the risk of inadvertent product delivery by operating the lever.

Furthermore, the compact structure of the container with cap is interrupted by the operating lever. This complicates handling even when filling the container with propellant gas and / or product. In most cases, such storage facilities are provided for receiving consumer products and must therefore be mass produced and filled or packaged. For this purpose, filling machines are used, which are usually aligned on cylindrical, often rotationally symmetric, structures. Dispensers with laterally projecting actuating levers can often not be filled on such machines. However, the filling process generally proves to be relatively uncritical because, according to a common embodiment, the cap with the lever is placed on the container only after filling. However, the execution of the packaging process is critical, since the asymmetry caused by a laterally protruding lever necessitates additional orientation of the containers during packaging and / or greater outer packaging.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an actuating mechanism for an output device of a container using an actuating lever, which reduces or overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art as described above.

This object is achieved in that the actuating lever is pivotable by a pivoting device between a first pivot position and at least a second pivot position.

The invention recognizes that the disadvantages of the prior art can be overcome by a pivotable actuating lever in that this is integrated in a pivoted position in the structure or outer contour of the storage device and in a second pivoted position offers the possibility to trigger by the operation of the lever, the product removal and, or to dose.

Furthermore, the invention realizes a safeguard against unintentional product removal in a bifunctional and very reliable construction in the context of an integrated construction. In the first pivoted position of the actuating lever and thus in the integrated into the structure or outer contour of the storage device position the geometries are constructed such that the operating lever can not be deflected for the purpose of product removal. Thus, the invention meets the functional requirements of lever integration in the storage structure and at the same time provides the necessary in this pivotal position of the actuating lever protection against inadvertent activation of the actuating mechanism in a bifunctional manner.

The pivoting of the actuating lever can be effected both by an isolated pivoting movement of the actuating lever and by pivoting the entire actuating mechanism, is preferably intended for an isolated pivoting movement of the actuating lever by a pivoting device, which can take place in a rotational or radial-translatory manner with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the storage device ,

With the pivoting of the operating lever into a position in which it is integrated into the structure of the storage device, both the risk of breakage of the operating lever is switched off as well as any handling situation within a machine filling, transport, storage conditions generally or between the individual product removal times improved and supported. In conjunction with the integrated actuation safeguard against unintentional product removal, maximum safety and user-friendliness result for the user. In summary, the construction according to the invention can be defined by the fact that the lever in the basic positioning or in the positioning not provided for active actuation is integrated into the outer contour of the container with cap and does not protrude from this contour.

A guide of the lever from the outwardly projecting operator positioning is preferably carried out by turning the spray head. An application of the construction according to the invention is possible for cylindrical containers and / or containers with a non-circular cross-sectional area. The implementation of a rotary movement of the spray head in a proposed positioning of the lever is preferably carried out by one or more control cams.

A preferred application of the construction is for dispensing cosmetic products and / or perfumery. In principle, however, any liquid products can be released in a defined manner using the construction according to the invention.

In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are shown schematically. Show it:

1 shows a cross section through a perspective model of the storage device (10),

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the storage device (10) with a

Operating lever (310) in a pivoting position,

3 is a perspective view of an exemplary, rotationally symmetrical model of the storage device (10),

4 shows a further perspective view of an exemplary, rotationally symmetrical model of the storage device (10), 5 is a perspective view of a section of the dispensing device 100 with elements of the actuating mechanism 300 and the pivoting device 400;

6 shows a cross section through a perspective model of the storage device (10) with a pivot position of the actuating lever (310) deviating from FIG. 1,

Fig. 7 shows the sectional view of the storage device (10) in one

1 by 90 ° to the central longitudinal axis rotated cutting plane,

8 shows a cross section through a perspective model of the storage device (10) in a sectional plane rotated by 90 ° relative to the central longitudinal axis with respect to FIG. 1, FIG.

9 is a sectional view of the storage device (10) with a

Operating lever (310) in a relation to FIG. 2 deviating pivot position,

10 shows a cross section through a perspective model of the storage device (10) with a different from Fig. 6 operating position of the actuating lever (310),

Fig. 1 1 is a sectional view of the storage device (10) with a

Actuating lever (310) analogous to FIG. 6,

12 is an exploded perspective view of the storage device (10),

13 is an exploded perspective view of the storage device (10) and the enlarged three-dimensional representation of the respective items and Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment.

The following description refers, with regard to the concrete embodiments, in part to an emission of aerosols and thus to containers which contain a liquid and a compressed gas. Without this being explained again in each individual case, however, all embodiments alternatively also relate, for example, to non-pressurized variants in which, for example, a lototion pump or a bag-in-can system are used. For example, it is therefore also possible to dispense liquids or foams which are not under pressure.

Figure 1 shows a cross section through a perspective sketch of the storage device (10) in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The storage device (10) is formed in this embodiment, a container provided with an internal pressure or a spray bottle with a flowable, stored under pressure product and is essentially formed by a container (200) for receiving product and propellant and an output unit ( 500) which is pressure-tightly fixed to the container (200). Furthermore, the dispenser (100) comprising the actuating mechanism (300) and the pivoting device (400) is shown.

The dispenser (100), with its housing (110) secured to the container (200) and the rotary cap (120) moveable relative to the housing (110), surrounds the dispenser members (300, 400) and dispensing unit (500). The output unit (500) of this embodiment according to the invention is formed by a valve unit (510) comprising a valve body (51), the guide body (512) and the outlet body (513). Other forms of dispensing units may be used in non-pressurized product storage, for example, a product-pumping pump activatable by the actuating mechanism. The actuation mechanism (300) for activating and / or metering the product removal actuates the dispensing unit (500) by an actuating linkage (321) which is operatively connected to and movable by the actuating lever (310) via coupling means (320). The actuating linkage (321) is moved by the actuating lever (310) about a pivot (322) such that a linear displacement of the valve unit (510) releases a preferably concentric ring cross-section, via the product into the guide body (512) and the outlet body (513). - In the present example by way of example in the axial direction - can flow into the environment.

The coupling means (320) for establishing an operative connection between the actuating lever (310) and actuating linkage (321) is formed by a strut with a struts receiving, which has releasable joint properties and the forces required for the movement of the actuating rod (321) in the direction and transfer amount.

The actuation lever (310) is coupled to a pivoting device (400) that allows the actuation lever (310) to pivot from a first pivot position to at least a second pivot position. In the first pivot position, the operating lever (310) assumes the position shown in Figure 1, i. the actuating lever (310) is pivoted into a recess (1 1 1) of the housing (1 10) and thereby in the structure of the storage device (10) intergiert so that it has no protruding elements or projections. The pivoting in the at least one second pivot position is effected by rotation of the rotary cap (120) about the center axis of the storage device (10) and the interaction of the elements (401, 402) of the pivoting device (400).

By the rotatably connected to the rotary cap (120) actuator (402) and the articulated with the actuating lever (310) connected to the clutch (401) is the generation of a middle axis parallel linear movement of the clutch (401) and the hinged end of the actuating lever (310) by a control cam (403) in the form of a geometric cam formed with the actuator (402). Ramp supported so that the pivoting of the actuating lever (310) takes place in the at least one second pivotal position. The contact point between the coupling (401) and the actuator (402) is configured as a sliding connection and geometrically-functional following the Kulissensteinprinzip. The pivoting device (400) works like a transmission to convert a rotational motion kinematics in a translational kinematics. The linear displacement is determined by the realized rotation angle of the rotary (drive) movement and the slope of the geometric ramp.

By virtue of the linear axis-parallel linear movement of the coupling (401) and the articulated end of the actuating lever (310), the actuating lever (310) tilts about its articulated point of contact with the coupling means (320) so that the grip area (31 1) pivots into a radially projecting actuating position becomes. Only in the actuation position, which corresponds to the at least one second pivot position, it is possible to activate the dispensing unit (500) and to remove product from the container (200).

Figure 2 illustrates a sectional view of the storage device (10) with an actuating lever (310) in a second pivot position and upon actuation of the valve unit (510) for removing or dosing product from the container (200). The actuating linkage (321) is moved out of its unoperated rest position by the actuating lever (310), so that a linear displacement of the valve unit (510) releases a preferably concentric annular cross-section through which product flows out into the guide body (512) and the outlet body (513). In Figure 2, the entire operating stroke of the actuating lever (310) is not exhausted, the actuating lever (310) with its handle portion (31 1) is in a position between the unactuated position in which the output unit (500) is fully closed and the Stop position in which the actuating lever (310) in the recess (1 1 1) of the housing (1 10) is pivoted.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of an exemplary, rotationally symmetrical model of the storage device (10). The operating lever (310) is in the first pivot position, in which this in the recess (1 1 1) of the housing (1 10) is pivoted. Prerequisite for the first pivot position is that the rotary cap (120) has not activated the pivoting device (400) - otherwise, the position shown of the operating lever (310) would be the Betätigungsendstellung.

FIG. 4 shows a further perspective view of an exemplary, rotationally symmetrical model of the storage device (10) in an oblique view from above, so that the guide body (512) and the outlet body (513) can be represented.

FIG. 5 illustrates the perspective view of a section of the dispensing device (100) with elements of the actuating mechanism (300) and the swiveling device (400) in that the rotary cap (120) is not shown.

FIG. 6 shows a cross section through a perspective model of the storage device (10) with a pivoting position of the actuating lever (310) deviating from FIG. Here, the operating lever (310) is shown in its at least one second pivot position, i. the position after pivoting by the pivoting device (400) and still unconfirmed with respect to a product removal.

FIG. 7 shows the sectional representation of the storage device (10) in a sectional plane rotated by 90 ° relative to the central longitudinal axis relative to FIG. 1, in this view the stop (404) provided on the actuator (402) is shown, which controls the travel path of the coupling (401). along the control cam (403) limited and as a result defines the projection of the actuating lever (310) in its at least one second pivot position.

FIG. 8 shows a cross section through a perspective model of the storage device (10) in a sectional plane rotated by 90 ° with respect to the central longitudinal axis relative to FIG. 1 and corresponds to the view of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 shows a sectional representation of the storage device (10) with an actuating lever (310) in a pivoting position deviating from FIG. Here, the positioning situation corresponds to that of FIG. 1.

Figure 10 shows a cross section through a perspective model of the storage device (10) with a different from Figure 6 operating position of the actuating lever (3 0). Here, the positioning situation corresponds to that of FIG. 2.

The actuating linkage (321) is moved out of its unoperated rest position by the actuating lever (310), so that a linear displacement of the valve unit (510) releases a preferably concentric annular cross-section through which product flows out into the guide body (512) and the outlet body (513). In FIG. 10, as in FIG. 2, the entire actuating stroke of the actuating lever 310 has not been exhausted. The actuating lever 310 with its grip area 31 is in a position between the unactuated position in which the dispensing unit 500 is completely open is closed and the stop position in which the actuating lever (310) in the recess (11 1) of the housing (1 10) is pivoted.

1 1 shows a sectional view of the storage device (10) with an actuating lever (310) analogous to FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the storage device (10).

FIG. 13 depicts a perspective exploded view of the storage device (10) and the enlarged three-dimensional representation of the respective individual parts.

The output channel, which has already been mentioned several times, can be configured in such a way according to an embodiment variant that the dispensing opening opens laterally into part (110) or into part (120). By a rotating component (120), the output is preferably opening only released. This has the advantage that, for example, when dispensing lotions of the output channel is protected from penetrating dirt or from penetrating oxygen.

In the illustration according to FIG. 14, an alternative variant is shown. According to this embodiment, the cam, which dictates the pivoting of the actuating lever, from the rotary cap (120) on the actuating linkage (321) is displaced. In this embodiment, the abutment of the actuating lever is formed by the guide body (512). By rotating the cap, the operating lever (310) slides according to this embodiment only on the edge of the actuating linkage (321) along. The operating lever (310) is pulled in this case to the guide body (512). As a result, the actuating lever (310) depends on and can be actuated to a product delivery.

Claims

Patent claims

A storage device (10) for storing and dispensing products having a structure formed essentially of a container (200) for storing product and an output device (100), and an actuating mechanism (300) comprising an activation lever (310) for activation and, or metering product removal from the container (200) by the dispenser (100), characterized in that the actuating lever (310) is pivotable by a pivoting device (400) between a first pivot position and at least one second pivot position.

2. storage device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivoting device (400) with respect to the center axis of the storage device (10) rotatory drive movement in one for the pivoting of the actuating lever (310) substantially parallel to the center axis of the storage device (10) extending translational-linear motion converts.

3. storage device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivoting movement of the actuating lever (310) between a first pivot position and at least one second pivot position of a largely rotational trajectory with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the storage device (10) follows.

4. storage device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivoting movement of the actuating lever (310) between a first pivot position and at least one second pivot position follows a largely radial-translatory movement path with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the storage device (10).

5. storage device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivoting device (400) substantially by a rotatably connected to the rotary cap (120) connected to the actuator (402) and a hingedly connected to the actuating lever (310) coupling (401) is.

6. storage device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the actuator (402) has the shape of a helix and is configured such that a control cam (403) is formed with a geometric ramp.

7. storage device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the contact point of the coupling (401) and the actuator (402) is realized as a sliding connection, which supports the relative movement of the clutch (401) and actuator (402) to each other.

8. storage device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the actuating lever (310) of the actuating mechanism (300) at the end with the pivoting device (400) by an articulated connection with the coupling (401) is in operative connection.

9. storage device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating lever (310) of the actuating mechanism (300) with an actuating linkage (321) is in operative connection, so that the actuating lever (310) is rotatably pivotable about the operative connection.

10. storage device (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that the operative connection by coupling means (320) is made in the form of an articulated connection.

1 1. storage device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivoting movement of the actuating lever (310) between a first pivot position and at least a second pivot position of an approximately radial-translatory movement path with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the storage device (10) follows, so that the grip area (31 1) is pivotable in a radially projecting actuating position.

12. storage device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivoting of the actuating lever (310) between a first pivot position and at least one second pivot position by rotation of the rotary cap (120) about the center axis of the storage device (10) and the interaction of the elements (401, 402) of the pivoting device (400) is supported.

13. storage device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating lever (310) in the first pivot position in a recess (1 1 1) of the housing (1 10) is pivoted, so that the actuating lever (310) in the structure of Storage device is integrated.

14, storage device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating mechanism (300) is configured such that when positioning the actuating lever (310) in the first pivot position, the output unit (500) for the purpose of product removal or dosage is not activated ,

15, storage device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating mechanism (300) is configured such that in the positioning of the actuating lever (310) in one of the first pivot position of the pivoting device (400) different position, the output unit (500). for the purpose of product removal or dosage is activated.

16. storage device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the delivery of product in a relative to the central longitudinal axis of the storage device (10) radial or axial direction is supported.

17. A method for removing product from a storage device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the method steps a. Rotating the rotary cap (120) such that the actuating lever (310) is integrated into at least one second pivotal position from a first pivotal position in which the actuating lever (310) is integrated into the structure of the storage device (10) and the dispensing unit (500) is inactivated the actuating lever (310) assumes a position protruding out of the structure of the storage device (10), in which the delivery unit (500) can be activated for the purpose of removing the product, b. Moving the operating lever (310) so that the actuating mechanism (300) activates the dispensing unit (500) and the product is removable and meterable.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the movement of the actuating lever (310) takes place in a substantially rotational manner about the actuating lever receptacle on the coupling means (320).