EP3294660A1

EP3294660A1 - Fluid dispenser for the foodstuff supply sector

Info

Publication number: EP3294660A1
Application number: EP16720372.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dan Barron
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2015-05-15
Filing date: 2016-04-19
Publication date: 2018-03-21
Anticipated expiration: 2036-04-19
Also published as: US20180134435A1; EP3294660B1; CN107624101B; WO2016184633A1; CN107624101A; US10124921B2; BR112017023402B1; BR112017023402A2; DE102015208966A1

Abstract

A fluid dispenser for the foodstuff supply sector has a dimensionally rigid housing (1) with viscous contents, wherein the fluid dispenser is designed to receive tubular bags which have a dispensing device (7) that is fitted or can be fitted on the tubular bag (2) itself and that permits metered dispensing of the contents. Moreover, the tubular bag (2) can be inserted and secured in a predetermined position in the fluid dispenser, and an auxiliary device is present with which the viscous contents located in the tubular bag can be continuously pushed in the direction of the dispensing device (7) on the tubular bag, by mechanical application of pressure to the tubular bag (2) in the position of use of the fluid dispenser. To secure the tubular bag (2) in the housing (1), a clamping device is present. The auxiliary device is a weighting roller (3) which is mounted between two lateral guides (5) in the housing (1) and which, in the position of use of the fluid dispenser, bears horizontally on the tubular bag (2) and, by means of its inherent weight, is able to push the viscous contents of the tubular bag continuously to the dispensing device (7) on the tubular bag. The auxiliary device additionally contains position-stabilizing means with which the horizontal bearing of the weighting roller on the tubular bag, in the position of use of the fluid dispenser, can be stabilized.

Description

description

title

Fluid dispenser for the food supply sector prior art

The invention relates to a fluid dispenser for the

Food supply area according to claim 1. The invention particularly relates to a fluid dispenser for the

Food supply area with a dimensionally stable housing for receiving a tubular bag with a viscous ingredient, wherein the fluid dispenser is also adapted to receive tubular bags, the one on

Tubular bag self-attached or attachable dispensing device for metered dispensing of the ingredient, and further wherein the

Tubular bag in the fluid dispenser can be used and fastened in a predetermined position and wherein an auxiliary device is provided with the viscous ingredients located in the tubular bag by mechanical pressure on the tubular bag in the position of use of the fluid dispenser continuously in the direction of the dispenser on the tubular bag is urged ,

Nowadays, in the food supply sector, very large quantities of viscous products have to be supplied in so-called tubular bags in order to comply with hygienic conditions. These tubular bags are flexible containers in which often an output device, for example in the form of a metering pump integrated or at least be placed and are provided in the entirety for single use. In this way, a contamination of the mostly perishable viscous products (eg sauces, etc.) is to be prevented. It should also be prevented as possible that During the emptying process, air penetrates into the tubular bags because penetrating air can promote the contamination and the atmospheric oxygen can also impair the quality of the products. Nevertheless, of course one would like to empty the tubular bag as completely as possible. The latter is often a problem even with solutions with disposable metering pumps, because the uncontrolled slumping of the tubular bag during the emptying process and the associated wrinkling of the tubular bag very often cause a considerable proportion of the tubular bag contents to get caught in the wrinkles and thus can not be emptied. Estimates of a big one

Distributors in the global food supply industry estimate that an emptying capacity of 96% instead of 88% would save approximately $ 1 million per year in tubular bag content.

In principle, it is of course known that the effectively achievable drainability of a tubular bag is always dependent on various factors, such as the emptying rate, the viscosity of the product and the nature of the product

Tubular bag arrangement and deformation during the emptying process. Other factors, such as the design of the

Output device or the structure of the metering pump used, may also play a role.

For at least approximately complete emptying of tubular bags in the food sector, various devices and methods have been proposed and implemented before the advent of metering pumps. These include, for example, the simple leakage through the natural influence of gravity, suction devices and

Ausquetschvorrichtungen in which the tubular bag is for example pressed between two solid plates under force. However, simple leakage can hardly meet with acceptance especially in viscous products because of the required period of time and both the

Sucking as well as squeezing entail, because of the largely uncontrollable wrinkling in use, the mentioned risk that the complete drainability is hindered because of the blockage of the outlet paths by the wrinkles.

An example of a device for dispensing rather viscous products is described in US3257039A. US3257039A shows a dispenser for dispensing toothpaste from compressible tubes, the tubes being expressed between two toothed squeezing rollers by means of a manually operable lever device from the tube end. The tubes are not clamped in the true sense but held only in one position between the Auspressrollen and a recess at the dispensing end of the dispenser and the tubes also have no attached to the tube body itself output device. There is only a spring-loaded cap on the dispenser housing. Since the lever device is slit-guided, the lever device and thus also the squeezing rollers can tilt slightly laterally. In principle it is however a manually supported phasing solution.

US5638989A describes a dispenser for dispensing fluids from tubular bags. The tubular bags are held or clamped in a three-point suspension, namely between two upper suspension hook and a lower receiving opening for holding a dispensing device, wherein the dispensing device in turn is attached to the tubular bag itself. The emptying takes place under the influence of gravity, but it is also a pivotable clamping bracket provided which presses in the middle bag area against a side wall of the tubular bag and apparently at least partially improves the drainability of the tubular bag.

US-5490613 describes a fluid dispenser for the

Tubular bag self-attached and manually operable dispensing device for metered dispensing of the ingredient, and further wherein the tubular bag in the fluid dispenser can be used and fastened in a predetermined position and wherein an auxiliary device is provided with the through mechanical pressure on the tubular bag which is located in the tubular bag viscous ingredients in the position of use of the fluid dispenser continuously in the direction of the dispenser on the tubular bag is urged. The attachment of the tubular bag in the housing is made by a clamping means Aufspannmitteln in the form of a three-point clamping. The auxiliary device consists of at least one mounted between two side slideways in the housing weight role, the up and in the position of use of the fluid dispenser on the tubular bag and is able to continuously push through its own weight located in the tubular bag viscous ingredient to the output device on the tubular bag. In principle, this disclosure is a weight-assisted release solution. Since the two weights are only in

Guide slots are guided, a lateral tilting of the weight rolls is possible.

Since none of these solutions deals with the increasingly occurring wrinkling, which occurs in particular when pumping tubular bags in appearance, then, for example, if the hose bag itself attached dispensing device for metered dispensing of the contents of the same is a metering pump, also the current solutions with

Gravity-utilizing weight rollers with lateral sliding guides unsatisfactory. Because the wrinkling is largely uncontrollable and random, they can also occur unilaterally. If this is the case, the

Outlet support by weight rollers also one-sided, because they can tilt may even get stuck on one-sided creases wrinkles. In the pockets of such wrinkles often remains empty ingredient. In such cases, then the target, namely the mentioned as complete emptying of the tubular bag, achieved only insufficient.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved solution for a complete emptying of tubular bags with a fluid dispenser, which is particularly suitable for the food sector. In particular, the desired solution should be suitable for situations in which To empty the bag during emptying

Tend to wrinkle.

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

The solution includes that in a generic fluid dispenser with an auxiliary device with a passively acting weight roller to support the most complete emptying of the tubular bag the

Auxiliary device is provided with position stabilizing means with which the horizontal position in the position of use of the fluid dispenser and installation of the

Weight roll is stabilized on the tubular bag. These

Lagestabilisierungsmittel cause a tilting of the weight roll can be largely avoided despite possible unilateral wrinkling. This measure can thus to some extent as a prerequisite for a. Complete Auswalzung 'of the tubular bag despite any

Creasing can be seen.

Of course, it should be noted that the desired. Complete

Ausalzbarkeit 'of the tubular bag in spite of existing creases, of course, also depends on whether the weight roll can overcome wrinkles with their position in their downward movement at all. For this purpose, the weight role needs a certain flexibility, but also should not be too large because otherwise the Auswalzbarkeit is in question. It has been found that a Schaumstoffummantelung the weight role with a certain

Sheath foam layer thickness is particularly advantageous.

Practical tests with standard tubular bags and attached

Dosing pumps have shown that this combination of features can achieve drainage rates of 96% to 98%.

These and other advantages also go from the following

Detailed description of an embodiment of a fluid dispenser according to the invention. It shows

Fig. 1, the open housing of a fluid dispenser without inserted

Tubular bag and without weight roll in a view from above,

Fig. 2 shows the housing of Fig. 1 with inserted tubular bag in one

spatial view,

Fig. 3 shows the housing of Fig. 1 with inserted tubular bag and

inserted weight role in a spatial view,

4 shows the weight roller in a three-dimensional view,

5 is a sectional view through the closed housing of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a schematic partial section through the housing of Fig. 1 for

Explanation of the function,

7 is a further schematic partial section through the housing of FIG. 1 for explaining the emptying of residues, FIG.

8 shows a tubular bag with a metering pump attached to it

spatial view, and

9 shows a fluid dispenser with the attached or inserted housing of FIG. 1.

Fig. 1 shows the open housing 1 of a fluid dispenser without inserted tubular bag 2 and without weight roller 3 (the latter see Figures 2 and 3) in a view from above. The housing 1 consists of a

(unfolded) upper housing part 1 a and a lower housing part 1 b, which are connected by hinges (not shown) in a hinge region 4 hinged together and in the closed position with a

Closing device, such as a spring-loaded slide (not shown), are lockable. The terms lower housing part and upper housing part relate here only to the illustrated and suitable for equipping with a tubular bag handling position. At least the upper housing part 1 a is provided for stiffening with a rib structure.

At least one of the two housing parts 1 a, 1 b, here the lower housing part 1 b, has on both sides in edge regions inside and designed as a rack guides 5 which extend substantially over the entire width of the housing. The guides 5 are subcomponents of

Position stabilizer for the weight roller 3. This will be explained in more detail below.

In the lower housing part 1 b are upper Aufspannmittel 6 a, 6 b, which are formed as a clamping means. In the lower housing part 1 b is a lower chuck 6 c in the form of a fitting holder for a hose bag 2 itself attached or attachable dispenser 7 for metered delivery of the ingredient. The upper chuck 6a, 6b and the lower chuck 6c are referred to in their entirety as a jig and thereby form the aforementioned three-point clamping for the tubular bag 2. The tubular bag 2 is in the housing 1 so by means of the three-point clamping between the upper chucks 6a, 6b and the lower chuck 6c kept taut. To ensure the best possible clamping or to minimize wrinkling during the entire evacuation process of the tubular bag, additional spring trains may be provided for the upper chuck 6a, 6b, for example (not shown). Thus, the dimensional changes of the tubular bag during emptying account can be taken.

It has also been mentioned that the output device 7 am

Hose bag 2 itself attached or at least before use can be attached, because yes, the goal is that the tubular bag 2 together with the

used output device 7 for hygiene reasons for the

Single use should be designed. The dispensing device 7 can therefore, for example, be a disposable metering pump 10 or even a disposable dispensing pump 10. Push-up type or a disposable screw cap. Both the housing 1 and the lower chuck 6c are therefore designed so that, depending on the type of dispensing device used, they can pick it up and position it in a manner that at least parts of the dispensing device 7 as a fluid outlet of the same Tubular bag 2 and closed housing 1 from the latter

protrude (see Fig. 2). In the present embodiment, the metering pump 10 protrudes from the housing 1, which of course makes it possible to use a separately be coupled with the metering pump 10 metering pump drive.

Furthermore, it can be seen from FIG. 1 that at least one of the upper

Clamping means 6a, 6b, here specifically the upper chuck 6b, in the distance to the other upper chuck is adjustable. This is the upper one

Clamping means 6b arranged displaceably and lockably on a tensioning means guide 8. Thus, a tubular bag itself regardless of the filling state of the same always be optimally stretched. In addition, the upper chuck 6b is staggered relative to the housing 1 and opposite to the other upper chuck 6a to achieve an inclination of the tubular bag 2 used in the range of 4-6 degrees. Due to the slight inclination can be achieved that standardized, so easy to produce and substantially rectangular, tubular bag in

Operating position of the fluid dispenser are always clamped so that

at least in the base side region of the tubular bag, ie where the output device 7 is mounted, an outlet tendency arises. Due to this tendency to run away, even in the final stage of emptying, a practical

Completely leaking of the tubular bag contents towards the

Output device 7 ensures. Since the device is designed for standardized tubular bags, which always have a certain flexibility and which also have the shown corner-side arrangement of the dispenser 7, such a slight inclination is no problem even in the dispenser area. This is further illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7.

2 shows the housing 1 of FIG. 1 with inserted tubular bag 2 in a three-dimensional view. Clearly recognizable here is the previously mentioned Inclined position of the tubular bag 2 in the inserted state. The

Output device 7 of the tubular bag 2 or at least parts thereof protrude from the lower housing part.

Fig. 3 shows the housing 1 of Fig. 1 with inserted tubular bag 2 and inserted weight roller 3 in a three-dimensional view. This illustration also clarifies the position in which the weight roller 3 is to be inserted when the fluid dispenser is equipped with a full tubular bag 2.

FIG. 4 shows the weight roller 3 in a three-dimensional view. It can be clearly seen here that the weight roller 3 has toothed wheels 9 at both ends on both sides. The latter can of course also be integrally formed on a cylinder-like core 10 of the weight roller 3. The gears 9 cooperate with the guides 5 formed as racks in the housing, in a manner such that the weight roller 3 in the closed housing 1 on both sides ratchet guided back and forth. Since the gears 9 in

closed housing 1 can not jump out of the rack guides, a lateral tilting of the weight roller 3 is effectively prevented. The gears 9 and the racks are thus position stabilizing means for an auxiliary device, wherein the weight roller, which is able by its own weight to continuously push the ingredients located in the tubular bag in the direction of the dispenser, as just this auxiliary device can be seen. Basically, there are other technical means to achieve a comparable position stabilization when using a weight roll for the stated purpose. Further notes on this will follow after the description of the figures of the present embodiment.

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view through the closed housing 1 of Fig. 1, wherein the section has been placed in the region of the gear 9 and the guide 5 with the rack and. The housing 1 is here in the

Position of use of the fluid dispenser shown, ie in the position in which the output device 7 is located at the lowest point of the device. Here it is illustrated that the weight roller 3 could roll in the absence of a tubular bag 2 so easily down to the output device 7. Fig. 6 shows a schematic partial section through the housing of Fig. 1 for explaining the function. In contrast to the illustration according to FIG. 5, a tubular bag 2 is used here and already emptied about halfway. The weight roller 3 rests on the tubular bag 2 and laterally, thus urging the contents of the tubular bag 2 continuously in the direction of the

Output device 7. The lateral installation takes place in a contact area S, which of course shifts downward with continuous emptying. Already emptied parts of the tubular bag 2 are located above the weight roller 3 and lie on the lower housing part 1 b. The weight roller 3 itself has a cylindrical, elongated and fixed core 10 and a core 10th

Cylindrical shell-like elastic sheath 1 1. The solid core 10 is preferably made of a heavy material, for example metal. The elastic sheath 1 1 is preferably made of a soft foam. The layer thickness of the sheath 1 1 is preferably in a range of 6 to 10 mm.

As shown at least in part in FIG. 6, the soft deforms

Sheath 1 1 through the up and attachment to the tubular bag 2. If form in the investment area S on the tube bag 2 due to the pumping of the ingredient wrinkles, the weight role 3 can this soft

Overcoat 1 1 overcome and will not be stopped.

Fig. 7 shows a further schematic partial section through the housing 1 of Fig. 1 for explaining the emptying. Obviously here the weight roller 3 has arrived at the lower end of the tubular bag 2 and can not continue to roll down due to the slight inclination of the tubular bag 2. This illustration also shows that the inclination of the

Tubular bag in the inventive solution 2 must remain low in order to achieve the best possible emptying. If one makes the skew too small, residual quantities can no longer flow to the output device 7. If one makes the inclination too big, then the

Weight roll 3 just because of the position stabilizer in this critical area, the displacement of the remaining amounts no longer support. An inclination of the tubular bag 2 in the range of 4 to 6 degrees has proven to be particularly advantageous.

To further clarify the device as a whole, in FIG. 8 a filled standardized tubular bag 2 with an attached thereto

Output device 7 in the form of a known metering pump still shown as a whole in a spatial view. In essence, such a tubular bag is rectangular and has a length A and a width B. The volume of such tubular bags preferably ranges from about 1 to 12 liters. It goes without saying that a stuffed

Tubular bag will no longer be exactly rectangular, but, as hinted, deformed hourglass-like. Experiments have shown that the dimensional changes in width B and length A from

Empty state compared to the full state in the range of about 4% or about 9% vary. This obviously means that the streamlining of the

Three-point clamping of the tubular bag 2 between the chuck 6a, 6b, 6c in the emptying process also changes, which of course is one reason why additional funds to the weight roller 3 to overcome resulting wrinkles are necessary.

Finally, FIG. 9 shows a fluid dispenser with the up or

used housing of FIG. 1. Shown is an external view of the fluid dispenser in the position of use. For this purpose, the housing 1 of the fluid dispenser is in a base unit 12 on or placed, being held by the base unit 12 in the position of use, which means that the weight roller 3 in

Inside of the housing 1 vertical or at least approximately perpendicular to the tubular bag 2 can push down. The output device 7 is not visible in this representation, but in an implied manner

Control elements 13 on the base unit 12, with the example, a drive for a disposable metering pump on the tubular bag is controlled.

Returning to the position stabilizing means for position stabilization or avoiding tipping of the weight roll 3, it should be mentioned that there are also other technical means for achieving this goal. So can For example, in the guides 5 conical grooves and the two

3 faces wheels with conical Radrandausformung be mounted instead of racks and gears. Even with such constructions can tilting of the weight roller 3 effectively avoid, because a mutual tilting is virtually impossible.

Claims

claims

1 . Fluid dispenser for the food supply area with a dimensionally stable housing (1) for receiving a tubular bag (2) with a viscous ingredient, wherein the fluid dispenser is also adapted to receive tubular bags, which on the tubular bag (2) itself attached or attachable dispensing device (7) for the metered dispensing of the ingredient, and further wherein the tubular bag (2) in the fluid dispenser in a predetermined position can be used and fastened and wherein an auxiliary device is provided with the by mechanical pressure on the tubular bag (2) of the Tubular bag located viscous

Ingredients in the position of use of the fluid dispenser continuously in the direction of the dispensing device (7) on the tubular bag is urged, wherein

for fastening the tubular bag (2) in the housing (1) a

Clamping device is present, and wherein the auxiliary device between two lateral guides (5) in the housing (1) mounted weight roller (3), the horizontal position in the position of use of the fluid dispenser on the tubular bag (2) and by its own weight the viscous ingredient in the tubular bag continuously to the output device (7) on

To push tubular bag,

characterized in that

the auxiliary device contains position stabilizers with those in

Operating position of the fluid dispenser horizontal installation and attachment of the

Weight roll on the tubular bag is stabilized.

2. fluid dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the position stabilizing means racks in the guides (5) and with the racks cooperating gears (9) on the end faces of

Include weight roller (3).

3. Fluid dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the position stabilizing means conical grooves in the guides (5) and cooperating with the conical grooves guide wheels with conical

Radrandausformung at the end faces of the weight roll (3) include.

4. fluid dispenser according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the weight roller (3) an elongated cylinder-like core (10) and a core (10) surrounding the cylinder jacket elastic

Sheath (1 1).

5. fluid dispenser according to claim 4, characterized in that the elastic sheath (1 1) of a foam with a

Sheathing layer thickness of 6 - 10 mm.

6. fluid dispenser according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the housing (1) is in two parts and hinged.

7. fluid dispenser according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the housing (1) in a base unit (12) can be inserted or placed on the base unit.

8. Fluid dispenser according to one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the jig for achieving a three-point clamping for the

Tubular bag (2) is designed, with two in the use position upper

Clamping means (6a, 6b) and a lower clamping means (6c) in the position of use, the lower clamping means being a holder for the dispensing device (7) mounted or attachable to the tubular bag (2), characterized in that at least one of the upper clamping means (6a , 6b) is adjustable in the distance to the other upper clamping means (6b, 6a).

9. fluid dispenser according to claim 8, characterized in that in the use position upper chuck means (6a, 6b) include clamping means.

10. fluid dispenser according to claim 8 or 9, characterized

characterized in that the upper chuck means (6a, 6b) oppose the

Housing (1) are arranged offset obliquely to effect an inclination of the inserted tubular bag (2) in the range of 4-6 degrees.

1 1. Fluid dispenser according to one of the claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the holder for dispensing devices such

Metering pumps, Eindrück- or screw caps is formed.

12. Fluid dispenser according to one of the claims 1 to 1 1, characterized in that the fluid dispenser for receiving standardized substantially rectangular tubular bags (2) is formed, which comprise a volume range of 1 liter to 12 liters.