EP3294660B1 - Fluid-dispenser for food service - Google Patents

Description

State of the 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 service 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, which attached to the tubular bag itself or attachable dispenser for metered delivery of In addition, the tubular bag in the fluid dispenser can be used and fastened in a predetermined position and with an auxiliary device is present, 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 to 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 from a major distributor in the global food supply industry suggest that it would only be possible to save approximately $ 1 million per year in tube bag content with 96% emptying instead of 88%.

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 rate of emptying, the viscosity of the product and the type of tubular bag assembly and deformation during the evacuation process. Other factors, such as the design of the dispenser 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, easy leakage through the natural influence of gravitation, suction devices and squeezing devices, in which the tubular bag is for example pressed out between two solid plates under the action of force. However, simple leakage can hardly be accepted, particularly in the case of viscous products, because of the required period of time, and both the sucking and the squeezing involve the mentioned risk due to the largely uncontrollable formation of wrinkles in the application 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 in US3257039A described. The US3257039A shows a dispenser for dispensing toothpaste from compressible tubes, wherein the tubes are expressed between two toothed Auspressrollen by means of a manually operated lever device from the tube end ago. 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.

The 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.

The US 5490613 describes a fluid dispenser for the food service 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 having an attached to the tubular bag itself and manually operable dispenser 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 present, 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 weight rollers are guided only in guide slots, a lateral tilting of the weight rolls is possible.

Since none of these solutions deals with the increasingly occurring wrinkling, which occurs especially when pumping tubular bags in appearance, then, for example, if the hose bag itself attached dispensing device for dispensing the ingredient of the same is a metering pump, also the current solutions with gravity-utilizing weight rollers not to be satisfied with lateral sliding guides. Because the wrinkling is largely uncontrollable and random, they can also occur unilaterally. If this is the case, the spill support is also one-sided due to the fact that they can tilt and may even stick to one-sided creases. 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.

Other generic solutions are from the US 2002/092871 A1 . US 5199610 and US 2837243 known.

The invention makes it possible to provide an improved solution for the most 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

the evacuated tube bags tend to wrinkle during emptying.

The described fluid dispenser makes it possible that in a generic fluid dispenser with an auxiliary device with a passively acting weight roller to support a complete emptying of the tubular bag, the auxiliary device is provided with position stabilizing means with which in the position of use of the fluid dispenser horizontal up and conditioning the weight roll is stabilized on the tubular bag. This position stabilizing effect that tilting of the weight roll can be largely avoided despite possible unilateral wrinkling. This measure can thus be seen as a precondition for a, complete Auswalzung 'of the tubular bag despite any wrinkling.

Of course, it should be noted that the desired, complete Auswalzbarkeit 'of the tubular bag, of course, also exists depending on whether the weight role can overcome wrinkled wrinkles in their downward movement, despite existing wrinkles. 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 foam sheathing of the weight roll 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 will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment of a fluid dispenser according to the invention.

Fig. 1

das geöffnete Gehäuse eines Fluid-Dispensers ohne eingesetzten Schlauchbeutel und ohne Gewichtsrolle in einer Ansicht von oben,

Fig. 2

das Gehäuse von Fig. 1 mit eingesetztem Schlauchbeutel in einer räumlichen Ansicht,

Fig. 3

das Gehäuse von Fig. 1 mit eingesetztem Schlauchbeutel und eingesetzter Gewichtsrolle in einer räumlichen Ansicht,

Fig. 4

die Gewichtsrolle in einer räumlichen Ansicht,

Fig. 5

eine Schnittzeichnung durch das geschlossene Gehäuse von Fig. 1,

Fig. 6

ein schematischer Teilschnitt durch das Gehäuse von Fig. 1 zur Erläuterung der Funktion,

Fig. 7

ein weiterer schematischer Teilschnitt durch das Gehäuse von Fig. 1 zur Erläuterung der Restentleerung,

Fig. 8

ein Schlauchbeutel mit einer daran angebrachten Dosierpumpe in räumlicher Ansicht, und

Fig. 9

ein Fluid-Dispenser mit dem auf- bzw. eingesetzten Gehäuse von Fig. 1.

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

the case of Fig. 1 with inserted tubular bag in a spatial view,

Fig. 3

the case of Fig. 1 with inserted tubular bag and inserted weight roll in a spatial view,

Fig. 4

the weight roll in a spatial view,

Fig. 5

a sectional drawing through the closed housing of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 6

a schematic partial section through the housing of Fig. 1 to explain the function,

Fig. 7

a further schematic partial section through the housing of Fig. 1 to explain the emptying,

Fig. 8

a tubular bag with an attached metering pump in a spatial view, and

Fig. 9

a fluid dispenser with the on or inserted housing of Fig. 1 ,

The Fig. 1 shows the open housing 1 of a fluid dispenser without inserted tubular bag 2 and without weight roll 3 (the latter see Figures 2 and 3 ) in a view from above. The housing 1 consists of a (unfolded) upper housing part 1a and a lower housing part 1b, which are hingedly connected to each other via hinges (not shown) in a hinge region 4 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 1a is provided for stiffening with a rib structure.

At least one of the two housing parts 1 a, 1 b, in this case the lower housing part 1 b, has guides 5 which are located on both sides in edge regions and which are designed as toothed racks and which extend essentially over the entire width of the housing. The guides 5 are subcomponents of position stabilizing means for the weight roller 3. This will be explained in more detail below.

In the lower housing part 1b are upper Aufspannmittel 6a, 6b, which are designed as clamping means. In the lower housing part 1b is a lower chuck 6c 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 already been mentioned that the dispensing device 7 is attached to the tubular bag 2 itself or can be attached at least prior to use, because the aim is that the tubular bag 2 together with the dispensing device 7 used should be designed for single-use hygiene reasons. The dispensing device 7 can therefore, for example, be a disposable metering pump 10 or even a disposable injection pump. (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 Tube bag 2 and closed housing 1 protrude from the latter (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, from the Fig. 1 it can be seen that at least one of the upper clamping means 6a, 6b, in this case specifically the upper clamping means 6b, is adjustable in the distance to the other upper clamping means. For this purpose, the upper chuck 6b is arranged displaceably and lockably on a clamping 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, it is achieved that standardized, that is easy to produce and substantially rectangular, tubular bag are always clamped in the position of use of the fluid dispenser so that at least in the base side region of the tubular bag, ie where the output device 7 is mounted, a tendency to run out. As a result of this outlet tendency, a practically complete outflow of the tubular bag contents in the direction of the dispensing device 7 is ensured even in the final stage of emptying. 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 the Figures 2 and 7 ,

The Fig. 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.

The 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.

The 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 1, in such a way that the weight roller 3 in the closed housing 1 on both sides ratchet guided back and forth. Since the gears 9 in the 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 urge 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.

The 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 shown here in the position of use of the fluid dispenser, ie in the position in which the dispenser 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.

The Fig. 6 shows a schematic partial section through the housing of Fig. 1 to explain the function. In contrast to the representation according to Fig. 5 Here is a tubular bag 2 used and already emptied about half. The weight roller 3 rests on the tubular bag 2 and laterally and thus urges the contents of the tubular bag 2 continuously in the direction of the dispensing device 7. The lateral conditioning takes place in a contact area S, of course, with continuous emptying shifts down. Already emptied parts of the tubular bag 2 are located above the weight roller 3 and lie against the lower housing part 1b. The weight roller 3 itself has a cylindrical, elongated and fixed core 10 and an elastic sheath 11 surrounding the core 10 in the manner of a cylinder jacket. The solid core 10 is preferably made of a heavy material, for example metal. The elastic sheath 11 is preferably made of a soft foam. The layer thickness of the sheath 11 is preferably in a range of 6 to 10 mm.

Like in the Fig. 6 At least partially shown, deforms the soft casing 11 through the up and attachment to the tubular bag 2. If form in the investment area S on the tubular bag 2 due to the pumping of the ingredient wrinkles, the weight role 3 can overcome this according to the soft casing 11 and is of it not stopped.

The Fig. 7 shows a further schematic partial section through the housing 1 of Fig. 1 to explain 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 representation also makes it clear 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 but too large, so 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 is in the Fig. 8 a filled standardized tubular bag 2 with an attached dispensing 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 filled tubular bag will no longer be exactly rectangular, but, as hinted, deforms hourglass-like. Experiments have shown that the dimensional changes in width B and length A vary from the empty state to the full state in the range of about 4% and about 9%, respectively. This of course means that the tightening of the three-point clamping of the tubular bag 2 between the clamping means 6a, 6b, 6c also changes during the evacuation process, which of course is one reason why additional means are necessary on the weight roller 3 for overcoming wrinkles that arise.

The Fig. 9 finally shows a fluid dispenser with the up or inserted housing of Fig. 1 , Shown is an external view of the fluid dispenser in the use position. 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 the interior of the housing 1 perpendicular 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, be mounted in the guides 5 conical grooves and at the two end faces of the weight roller 3 guide wheels with conical Radrandausformung 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 (11)

1. Fluid dispenser for the food service sector, having a dimensionally stable housing (1) for receiving a tubular bag (2) having a viscous content, wherein the fluid dispenser is moreover configured for receiving tubular bags which have a delivery device (7) for the metered dispensing of the content, said delivery device (7) being attached or capable of being attached to the tubular bag (2) per se, and wherein the tubular bag (2) furthermore is capable of being inserted in the fluid dispenser in a predetermined position and capable of being fastened therein, and wherein an auxiliary device (3) by way of which viscose contents in the use position of the fluid dispenser by way of a mechanical compression effect on the tubular bag (2) are capable of being continuously urged in the direction towards the delivery device (7) on the tubular bag is present, wherein a suspension device for fastening the tubular bag (2) in the housing (1) is present, and wherein the auxiliary device is a weight roll (3) which is attached between two lateral guides (5) in the housing (1) and which in the use position of the fluid dispenser bears horizontally on and against the tubular bag (2) and on account of the dead weight of said weight roll (3) is able to continuously urge the viscose content located in the tubular bag towards the delivery device (7) on the tubular bag, wherein the auxiliary device includes position-stabilizing means by way of which the horizontal bearing of the weight roll on and against the tubular bag in the use position of the fluid dispenser is capable of being stabilized, wherein the suspension device is conceived for achieving a three-point suspension for the tubular bag (2), having in the use position two upper suspension means (6a, 6b) and in the use position one lower suspension means (6c), wherein the lower suspension means is a mounting for the delivery device (7) that is attached or capable of being attached to the tubular bag (2) per se, characterized in that at least one of the upper suspension means (6a, 6b) is adjustable in terms of the distance from the other upper suspension means (6b, 6a).
2. Fluid dispenser according to Claim 1, characterized in that the position-stabilizing means contain racks in the guides (5) and gear wheels (9) at the end sides of the weight roll (3), said gear wheels (9) interacting with the racks.
3. Fluid dispenser according to Claim 1, characterized in that the position-stabilizing means contain conical grooves in the guides (5) and guide wheels having conical peripheral mouldings on the end sides of the weight roll (3), said guide wheels interacting with the conical grooves.
4. Fluid dispenser according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the weight roll (3) has an elongate cylindrical core (10) and a sheathing (11) that elastically surrounds the core (10) in the manner of a cylindrical jacket.
5. Fluid dispenser according to Claim 4, characterized in that the elastic sheathing (11) is composed of a foam material having a sheathing layer thickness of 6 to 10 mm.
6. Fluid dispenser according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the housing (1) is in two parts and is capable of being flipped open.
7. Fluid dispenser according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the housing (1) is capable of being inserted into a base unit (12) or is capable of being placed onto the base unit.
8. Fluid dispenser according to Claim 8, characterized in that the in the use position upper suspension means (6a, 6b) contain clamping means.
9. Fluid dispenser according to Claim 1 or 8, characterized in that the upper suspension means (6a, 6b) are disposed so as to be obliquely offset in relation to the housing (1) so as to cause an oblique position of the inserted tubular bag (2) in the range from 4 to 6 angular degrees.
10. Fluid dispenser according to one of Claims 1, 8, or 9, characterized in that the mounting is configured for delivery devices such as metering pumps, push-in closures, or rotary closures.
11. Fluid dispenser according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the fluid dispenser is configured for receiving standardized, substantially rectangular, tubular bags (2) which comprise a volumetric range from 1 to 12 litres.

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