EP3626353A1 - Spray head cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

Cartridge (1) for detachable connection to a hand-operated spray head (2), the cartridge (1) comprising: a container (3) for receiving a first liquid, an outlet (4), a delivery device (5) for delivering a first liquid the container (3) to the outlet (4), and a coupling (6) for energy transfer from the hand-operated spray head (2) to the conveyor (5).

Description

The present invention relates generally to a cartridge for detachable connection to a hand-operated spray head, the cartridge comprising a container for holding a liquid.

Cartridges or cartridges for hand-operated spray heads for pumping and mixing two liquids are already known. For example, the DE 10 2006 029 345 A1 a dispensing device with such a spray head, preparations being conveyed from two different containers, mixed and released into the environment at the same time by means of conveying devices provided in the spray head. Interchangeable cartridges with different liquids can be used.

Such dispensing devices are preferably used in the detergent industry. In contrast to disposable containers, with the help of these reusable and refillable dispensing devices, various cleaning agents can be mixed and expelled. In this case, a first liquid in the form of an addition liquid, for example a cleaning agent concentrate, and a second liquid in the form of a solvent, for example water, are stored separately from one another and only mixed with one another before being ejected during active use.

A disadvantage of the solutions known from the prior art, however, is that after the mixing process between the solvent and the addition liquid, which, depending on the area of application, can be composed of surfactants, acids, bases, bleaching agents or enzymes, residues in the addition liquid containers, lines, conveyors and mixing chambers remain. Therefore, the alternate use of different interchangeable washing-active substances leads to undesired mixtures and possible chemical reactions, which can have a negative effect on the health of the operating personnel as well as the material life or integrity of the dispensing device.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to alleviate or eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art. The invention particularly aims to provide an exchangeable cartridge which can be arranged on a hand-operated spray head and in which, when using different liquids from different cartridges, there is no mixing of residues between the liquid contained in the cartridge currently in use and a liquid comes from a previously used cartridge.

This object is achieved by a cartridge with the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

The cartridge according to the invention of the type mentioned at the outset has a container for receiving a first liquid, an outlet, a conveying device for conveying a first liquid from the container to the outlet, and a coupling for transmitting energy from the hand-operated spray head to the conveying device. The actuation energy of an actuated actuating means of a hand-operated spray head is transmitted to the conveying device of the cartridge through the coupling. The conveying device for conveying a first liquid is therefore part of the exchangeable cartridge and is exchanged together with the container for the first liquid. As a result, a conveyor device for the first liquid can be dispensed with in the spray head, which allows the amount of the first liquid remaining in the spray head when the cartridge is changed. For example, the spray head can be set up in such a way that the outlet of the cartridge is arranged as close as possible to an outlet opening for the liquid mixture, so that the line volume through which the mixture flows before delivery and thus the amount of the first liquid potentially remaining in the spray head, to reduce.

For the purposes of this disclosure, the location and direction information, such as "above", "below", etc., relate to the intended use condition of the cartridge, in which the cartridge is placed on a spray head, which, for example, has a screw cap on a flat horizontal surface.

The conveyor of the cartridge can be designed as a positive displacement pump. The conveying device can, for example, have an internal reservoir (e.g. a cylinder) for receiving and dispensing the first liquid. By actuating the actuating means, pressure is built up in the internal reservoir, as a result of which the conveying device conveys at least part of the first liquid from the internal reservoir through an outlet channel in the direction of the outlet. When the actuating means is released, a negative pressure is created in the internal reservoir of the conveying device, as a result of which part of the first liquid is drawn from the container into the internal reservoir of the conveying device and fills it via a supply channel. The positive displacement pump can have a check valve, which can optionally act in one piece both between the outlet channel and the internal reservoir as an outlet valve and between the supply channel and the internal reservoir as an inlet valve. The check valve can be made of an elastic material, for example as a rubber plate. If the pressure in the internal reservoir increases in this variant, the inlet valve closes and the end of the check valve facing the outlet duct bends in the direction of the outlet duct, whereby the first liquid located in the internal reservoir is conveyed towards the outlet via the outlet duct. If the pressure in the internal reservoir drops in this variant, the outlet valve closes and the end of the check valve facing the supply duct bends in the direction of the internal reservoir, as a result of which the first liquid located in the container can flow into the internal reservoir via the supply duct. Positive displacement pumps can be constructed comparatively simply mechanically and thus combine simple manufacture with high reliability. In principle, other types of pumps can also be used within the scope of the invention, e.g. Flow pumps.

According to a first embodiment of the cartridge, the front device can be a reciprocating piston pump with a piston, the coupling being a mechanical coupling for connection to an actuating means of the hand-operated spray head. For example, the piston can be mechanically connected directly to the actuating means of the hand-operated spray head via the coupling. The mechanical clutch can be a clutch spring connected to the piston for connection to a trigger and / or a trigger spring of the spray head. This embodiment has the advantage that a high reproducibility of the delivered amounts of the first liquid is achieved. Assuming that the spray head also always delivers the same amount of a second liquid, a constant mixing ratio of the two liquids can therefore be reliably achieved with this variant.

According to a second embodiment of the cartridge, the delivery device of the cartridge can be a hydraulically articulated diaphragm pump (also referred to as a piston diaphragm pump), the coupling being a hydraulic coupling for connection to a pressure line of the hand-operated spray head. The diaphragm pump is, for example, hydraulically coupled to a spray head pump via a hydraulic coupling that branches off the pressure line of the manually operated spray head. For example, an outside of the membrane (outside with respect to the internal reservoir) can be hydraulically connected to the pressure line of the spray head pump. This embodiment has the advantage that the arrangement of the conveying device can be chosen flexibly, for example close to the pressure line. This results in a possible short line for the first liquid, so that a few empty strokes are required until the first liquid reaches the outlet. In addition, a mechanical coupling for energy transmission from the hand-operated spray head to the conveying device, the manufacture of which is comparatively complicated, can be dispensed with in this variant. Finally, this variant has the advantage that no first liquid is removed from the container if no pressure can be built up in the pressure line because the spray head runs empty (for example if a container for a second liquid - such as a water tank - is empty). .

Alternatively or additionally, the cartridge can have an extension piece for a pressure line of the hand-operated spray head. When using the cartridge, the extension piece extends the pressure line on a spray head. This enables, e.g. at the outer end of the extension piece to provide a nozzle adapted to the first liquid. Furthermore, in this case the outlet can open into the extension piece so that the first liquid never gets into the spray head.

In this context, the hydraulic coupling can also be provided in the extension piece. That is, the pressure line of the spray head is connected to the hydraulic coupling via the extended section in the extension piece. As a result, only a single liquid connection of the spray head to the cartridge is required.

To increase the pressure that can be achieved in the hydraulic clutch, a taper in the extended pressure line can be provided in the extension piece downstream of the hydraulic clutch. Due to the taper, there is increased flow resistance in front of the tapered line section, as viewed in the flow direction, as a result of which parts of the liquid flow can be directed towards the underside of the elastic membrane of the diaphragm pump via the path of the lower flow resistance, via the branching section of the hydraulic coupling.

For simple assembly and disassembly of the cartridges on a hand-operated spray head, the cartridge can have snap connection elements for detachable connection to the hand-operated spray head. Corresponding receiving projections can be provided on the hand-operated spray head, on which the snap connection elements can engage. Snap connections can be made and released quickly and safely and are particularly suitable to achieve a desired contact pressure e.g. to achieve tight fluid connections.

The snap connection elements can, for example, be located on a side opposite the outlet of the pressure line of the spray head Be arranged back of the cartridge. In combination with the above-mentioned extension piece, a spray head nozzle on the front of the spray head can pre-center the cartridge when the cartridge is placed in order to guide the snap connection elements in the direction of the corresponding receiving projections. When the cartridge is used on the spray head, the snap connection elements are in mechanical engagement with the receiving projections.

In addition, a suction line of the conveyor can be connected to an opening in the bottom of the container. This arrangement enables complete emptying of the container when the cartridge is used upright.

In addition, the present disclosure also relates to a spray head comprising a spray pump for drawing in a second liquid and dispensing the second liquid into a pressure line, the spray head being connected to a cartridge as described above, the outlet of the cartridge for mixing the first liquid into one liquid flow of the second liquid conveyed through the pressure line. Accordingly, the spray pump of the spray head and the conveyor of the cartridge are connected in parallel; d. H. they each only deliver the first liquid or the second liquid, the two liquids being mixed downstream of the spray pump and downstream of the conveying device.

Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a spray bottle with such a spray head and with a second container for holding a second liquid, the spray pump being connected to the second container via a suction line, so that a second liquid received in the second container is conveyed to and with the spray pump the first liquid can be mixed. As long as the first container and the second container each contain associated liquids, such a spray bottle is ready for use.

Finally, the present disclosure also covers use of a cartridge as noted above with one Detergent concentrate as the first liquid, and a use of a spray bottle as mentioned above, with a detergent concentrate as the first liquid and water as the second liquid. The detergent concentrate can be, for example, a concentrate for cleaners for the kitchen, bathroom, glass or general purpose.

The present disclosure has the additional advantage that it offers a practical solution for the use of concentrates and thereby enables the plastic consumption for packaging materials to be significantly reduced compared to conventional packaging solutions. The multiple usability (i.e. both for multiple functions and in terms of reuse) of a spray head and a spray bottle means that the materials required for separate spray heads and bottles can be saved. In addition, the ecological and economic disadvantages of the transport and storage of many spray heads and bottles are alleviated, because the weight and the space requirement are significantly lower with the same versatility.

• Fig. 1 schaubildlich eine Kartusche mit einer Kupplung zur mechanischen Energieübertragung gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform und einen korrespondierenden Sprühkopf;
• Fig. 2 schaubildlich die Kartusche und den Sprühkopf gemäß Fig. 1 in einer verbundenen Betriebsstellung;
• Fig. 3 schematisch einen Längsschnitt der Kartusche und des Sprühkopfes gemäß der Figuren 1 und 2 mit einer ersten Flüssigkeit und einer zweiten Flüssigkeit;
• Fig. 4 schaubildlich eine Kartusche mit einer Kupplung zur hydraulischen Energieübertragung gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform und einen korrespondierenden Sprühkopf;
• Fig. 5 schaubildlich die Kartusche und den Sprühkopf gemäß Fig. 4 in einer verbundenen Betriebsstellung; und
• Fig. 6 schematisch einen Längsschnitt der Kartusche und des Sprühkopfes gemäß der Figuren 4 und 5 mit einer ersten Flüssigkeit und einer zweiten Flüssigkeit.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of particularly preferred exemplary embodiments, to which, however, it should not be restricted, and with reference to the drawings. The following show in detail:

• Fig. 1 a cartridge with a coupling for mechanical energy transmission according to a first embodiment and a corresponding spray head;
• Fig. 2 graphically according to the cartridge and the spray head Fig. 1 in a connected operating position;
• Fig. 3 schematically shows a longitudinal section of the cartridge and the spray head according to the Figures 1 and 2 with a first liquid and a second liquid;
• Fig. 4 a cartridge with a coupling for hydraulic energy transmission according to a second embodiment and a corresponding spray head;
• Fig. 5 graphically according to the cartridge and the spray head Fig. 4 in a connected operating position; and
• Fig. 6 schematically shows a longitudinal section of the cartridge and the spray head according to the Figures 4 and 5 with a first Liquid and a second liquid.

Fig. 1 shows a cartridge 1 for detachable connection with a hand-operated spray head and a corresponding spray head 2. The cartridge 1 comprises a container 3, an outlet 4 (cf. Fig. 3 ), a conveyor 5 and a coupling 6. In addition, the cartridge 1 has an extension piece 7 for a pressure line 8 of the spray head 2.

The conveying device 5 is a positive displacement pump, more precisely a reciprocating piston pump with a piston 9. It is designed to convey a first liquid 10 from the container 3 to the outlet 4. The clutch 6 is a mechanical clutch for connection to an actuating means 11 of the hand-operated spray head 2 and for energy transmission from the hand-operated spray head 2 to the reciprocating piston pump.

The cartridge 1 has snap connection elements 12 for detachable connection to the hand-operated spray head 2. The snap connection elements 12 are arranged on a rear side 14 of the cartridge 1 opposite the outlet 13 of the pressure line 8 of the spray head 2.

In the in Fig. 2 shown operating position, the cartridge 1 is connected to the spray head 2. The spray head 2 comprises a spray pump 15 for sucking in a second liquid 16 and dispensing the second liquid 16 into a pressure line 8. The outlet 4 of the cartridge 1 is for mixing the first liquid 10 into a liquid flow 17 of the second liquid 16 conveyed through the pressure line 8 set up. The mechanical coupling 6 comprises at least one coupling spring 18 (or leg), which here is positively connected to a trigger spring 19 of the spray head 2. The trigger spring 19 is received in a groove 20 of the clutch spring 18.

Fig. 3 shows the cartridge 1 according to 1 and 2 connected to a spray head 2. A first liquid 10 is received in the container 3. The suction line 21 of the reciprocating pump is connected to an opening 22 in the bottom of the container 3.

By actuating the actuating means 11, the trigger spring 19 is bent upward in the direction of the container 3 of the first liquid 10, whereby the coupling spring 18 presses the piston 9 essentially perpendicularly in the direction of the container 3 of the first liquid 10. The piston 9 compresses the volume of the internal reservoir 23 of the conveying device 5, as a result of which the increasing pressure leads to the end of the check valve 25 facing the outlet duct 24 bending upward in the direction of the outlet duct 24, as a result of which the first one located in the internal reservoir 23 Liquid 10 is conveyed via the outlet channel 24 in the direction of the outlet 4. At the same time, the increasing pressure ensures that the check valve 25 presses against the opening of the suction line 21 and thus blocks both the inflow from the container 3 of the first liquid 10 and the outflow into the container 3 of the first liquid 10.

When the actuating means 11 is let out, the clutch spring 18 is pulled back into its starting position with the trigger spring 19, whereby the piston 9 is also guided back into its starting position. The piston 9 releases the volume of the internal reservoir 23 of the conveying device 5, as a result of which the resulting negative pressure leads to the end of the check valve 25 facing the suction line 21 bending downward in the direction of the internal reservoir 23, as a result of which the pressure in the container 3 first liquid 10 located above can flow in via suction line 21 in the direction of internal reservoir 23. At the same time, the negative pressure ensures that the check valve 25 presses against the opening of the outlet channel 24 and thus blocks both the backflow from the outlet channel 24 and the outflow of the first liquid 10 located in the internal reservoir 23 into the outlet channel 24.

The in the Figures 4 to 6 The second embodiment shown is based on a different type of conveyor device 26. To avoid repetitions, the common features of the first embodiment according to FIGS Figures 1 to 3 the same reference numerals are used and reference is made to the above statements.

In the second embodiment, the conveying device 5 is a hydraulically articulated diaphragm pump 26. The coupling 6 is a hydraulic coupling 27 for connection to a pressure line 8 of the hand-operated spray head 2 Fig. 6 can be seen, the hydraulic clutch 27 is provided in the extension piece 7. In addition, a taper 28 is provided in the extension piece 7 downstream of the hydraulic clutch 27 in the extended pressure line 29 in order to increase the pressure acting on the membrane 30.

By actuating the actuating means 11, pressure is built up in the pressure line 8 and the hydraulic coupling 27 branching off with the aid of the spray head pump 15, as a result of which an elastic membrane 30 of the membrane pump 26 expands upward in the direction of the container 3 of the first liquid 10. The volume of the internal reservoir 23 of the conveying device 5 is compressed, as a result of which the increasing pressure leads to the end of the check valve 25 facing the outlet channel 24 bending upward in the direction of the outlet channel 24, as a result of which the first liquid 10 located in the internal reservoir 23 is conveyed via the outlet channel 24 in the direction of outlet 4. At the same time, expanding membrane 30 and the associated increasing pressure ensure that the check valve 25 presses against the opening of the suction line 21 and thus both the inflow from the container 3 of the first liquid 10 and the outflow into the container 3 of the first liquid 10, blocked.

When the actuating means 11 is let out, the elastic membrane 30 pulls back into its starting position, whereby the volume of the internal reservoir 23 of the conveying device 5 is released, whereby the resulting negative pressure leads to the end of the check valve 25 facing the suction line 21 going downward bends in the direction of the internal reservoir 23, whereby the first liquid 10 located above in the container 3 is sucked in via the suction line 21 in the direction of the internal reservoir 23. At the same time, the vacuum ensures that the check valve 25 presses against the opening of the outlet channel 24 and thus both the Backflow from the outlet channel 24 and the outflow of the first liquid 10 located in the internal reservoir 23 into the outlet channel 24 are blocked.

Claims (14)

Cartridge (1) for detachable connection to a hand-operated spray head (2), the cartridge (1) comprising: a container (3) for holding a first liquid, an outlet (4), a conveying device (5) for conveying a first liquid from the container (3) to the outlet (4), and a coupling (6) for energy transmission from the hand-operated spray head (2) to the conveyor (5). Cartridge (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveying device (5) is a positive displacement pump. Cartridge (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the conveying device (5) is a reciprocating piston pump with a piston (9), the coupling (6) being a mechanical coupling for connection to an actuating means (11) of the manually operated spray head. Cartridge (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the conveying device (5) is a hydraulically articulated diaphragm pump (26), the coupling (6) being a hydraulic coupling (27) for connection to a pressure line (8) of the manually operated spray head ( 2) is. Cartridge (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cartridge (1) has an extension piece (7) for a pressure line (8) of the hand-operated spray head (2). Cartridge (1) according to claim 4 and claim 5, characterized in that the hydraulic coupling (27) is provided in the extension piece (7). Cartridge (1) according to claim 4 and claim 5 or 6, characterized in that in the extension piece (7) downstream of the hydraulic coupling (27) a taper (28) is provided in the extended pressure line (29). Cartridge (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the cartridge (1) has snap connection elements (12) for detachable connection to the hand-operated spray head (2). Cartridge (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the snap connection elements (12) are arranged on a rear side (14) of the cartridge (1) opposite the outlet (13) of the pressure line (8) of the spray head (2). Cartridge (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a suction line (21) of the conveyor (5) is connected to an opening (22) in the bottom of the container (3). Spray head (2) comprising a spray pump (15) for drawing in a second liquid (16) and dispensing the second liquid (16) into a pressure line (8), characterized in that the spray head (2) with a cartridge (1) according to a of claims 1 to 10, wherein the outlet (4) of the cartridge (1) for mixing the first liquid (10) into a liquid flow of the second liquid (16) conveyed through the pressure line (8). Spray bottle with a spray head (2) according to claim 11 and with a second container for receiving a second liquid (16), wherein the spray pump (15) is connected to the second container via a suction line, so that a second liquid received in the second container the spray pump (15) can be conveyed and mixed with the first liquid (10). Use of a cartridge (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10 with a detergent concentrate as the first liquid (10). Use of a spray bottle according to claim 12 with a detergent concentrate as the first liquid (109 and water as the second liquid (16).

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