EP4596486A1

EP4596486A1 - Holder for holding a pouch

Info

Publication number: EP4596486A1
Application number: EP24154899.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sebastian Kraus
Original assignee: Kao Germany GmbH
Current assignee: Kao Germany GmbH
Priority date: 2024-01-31
Filing date: 2024-01-31
Publication date: 2025-08-06

Abstract

A holder 120 for a dispensing machine 100 is configured to hold a pouch 200 containing a fluid in an inverted position to facilitate a dispensing of the fluid from the pouch. The holder includes a hanger 130 adapted to hold the pouch in the inverted position and movably coupled to a frame 110 of the dispensing machine. The hanger is arranged to move in a vertical direction relative to the frame. The holder further includes a biasing member 170 extending in the vertical direction with an upper end of the biasing member engaged with the hanger and a lower end of the biasing member engaged with the frame. The biasing member biases the hanger to a vertically upward position and is compressed vertically downwardly from the vertically upward position under a load of the pouch. The hanger moves upwardly under the biasing force of the spring as the fluid exits from the pouch, causing a stretching of the pouch in a longitudinal direction. This reduces the inner volume of the pouch and increases the inner pressure of the fluid stored inside the pouch, facilitating an improved dispensing of the fluid.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates, generally, to a dispensing machine for dispensing a fluid stored inside a pouch, and more particularly to a holder for a dispensing machine to hold a pouch in the dispensing machine to facilitate dispensing of the fluid from the pouch.

BACKGROUND

Pouches are, generally, arranged in a vertically inverted position inside a dispensing machine to dispense the fluid stored inside pouch. However, there is a gradual reduction in the flow rate of the fluid from the pouch as amount of fluid inside the pouch decreases, leading to very low flow rate of the fluid from the pouch when the pouch is almost empty, which is undesirable.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure is to provide a holder for dispensing machine suitable to hold a pouch filled with fluid and facilitates an efficient dispensing of a fluid stored inside the pouch to enable the dispensing of the entire content of the pouch, thereby reducing wastage.
One aspect of the disclosure is to provide a holder that holds the pouch in an inverted position, and stretches the pouch in a longitudinal direction, causing an increase in the inner pressure and improving the dispensing behavior of the fluid contained inside the pouch.
These and other aspects of the disclosure are provided by a holder for a dispensing machine. The holder is configured to hold a pouch containing a fluid in an inverted position to facilitate the dispensing of the fluid from the pouch. The holder includes a hanger adapted to hold the pouch in the inverted position and movably coupled to a frame of the dispensing machine. The hanger is arranged to move in a vertical direction relative to the frame. The holder further includes a biasing member extending in the vertical direction with an upper end of the biasing member engaged with the hanger and a lower end of the biasing member engaged with the frame. The biasing member biases the hanger to a vertically upward position and is compressed in response to the downward movement of the hanger from the vertically upward position under a load of the pouch. The hanger moves vertically upwardly due to the biasing force of the spring as the fluid exits from the pouch, causing a stretching of the pouch in a longitudinal direction. This reduces the inner volume of the pouch and thereby increases the inner pressure of the fluid stored inside the pouch, facilitating an improved dispensing of the fluid from the pouch. Also, due to increased inner pressure inside the pouch as the fluid exits the pouch, the dispensing speed of the fluid from the pouch is maintained, specifically when the pouch is about to empty.
In some embodiments, the hanger includes a column structure extending in the vertical direction and coupled to upper end of the biasing member and an arm extending substantially horizontally from an upper end of the column structure and configured to hold the pouch in the inverted position. The connection of the column structure with the spring enables the movement of the hanger in the vertically upward direction due to a decrease in loading of the hanger. Moreover, the arm supports the pouch.
In some embodiments, the holder further includes a vertically extending guide structure. The column structure is slidably coupled to the guide structure and the guide structure is configured to guide the sliding of the column structure in the vertical direction. The guide structure facilitates easy sliding of the column structure relative to the frame in the vertical direction, reducing any lateral movement of the hanger.
In some embodiments, the guide structure includes a guide rail.
In some embodiments, the biasing member includes a spring and the column structure includes a rod portion extending inside the spring. The rod portion extends inside the spring to prevent a buckling/deformation of the spring under a weight of the pouch.
Another aspect of the disclosure is to provide a dispensing machine to facilitate efficiently dispensing of a fluid from a pouch arranged in an inverted position.
One aspect of the disclosure is to provide a dispensing machine having a holder suitable to hold a pouch filled with fluid and facilitates an efficient dispensing of a fluid stored inside the pouch to enable the dispensing of the entire content of the pouch, thereby reducing wastage.
One aspect of the disclosure is to provide a dispensing machine with a holder that holds the pouch in an inverted position, and stretches the pouch in a longitudinal direction, causing an increase in the inner pressure and improving the dispensing behavior of the fluid contained inside the pouch.
The above and other aspects of the disclosure are provided by a dispensing machine for dispensing a fluid from a pouch. The dispensing machine includes a frame and a holder supported on the frame. The holder includes a hanger movably coupled to the frame and adapted to hold the pouch in the inverted position. The hanger is arranged to move in a vertical direction relative to the frame. The holder further includes a biasing member extending in the vertical direction with an upper end of the biasing member engaged with the hanger and a lower end of the biasing member engaged with the frame. The biasing member biases the hanger to a vertically upward position and is compressed in response to the downward movement of the hanger from the vertically upward position under a load of the pouch. The hanger moves vertically upwardly due to the biasing force of the spring as the fluid exits from the pouch, causing a stretching of the pouch in a longitudinal direction. This reduces the inner volume of the pouch and thereby increases the inner pressure of the fluid stored inside the pouch, facilitating an improved dispensing of the fluid from the pouch. Also, due to increased inner pressure inside the pouch as the fluid exits the pouch, a dispensing speed of the fluid from the pouch is maintained, specifically when the pouch is about to empty.
In some embodiments, the hanger includes a column structure extending in the vertical direction and coupled to upper end of the biasing member and an arm extending substantially horizontally from an upper end of the column structure and configured to hold the pouch in the inverted position. The connection of the column structure with the spring enables the movement of the hanger in the vertically upward direction due to a decrease in loading of the hanger. Moreover, the arm supports the pouch.
In some embodiments, the holder further includes a vertically extending guide structure, and the column structure is slidably coupled to the guide structure. The guide structure is configured to guide the sliding of the column structure in the vertical direction. The guide structure facilitates easy sliding of the column structure relative to the frame in the vertical direction, reducing any lateral movement of the hanger.
In some embodiments, the guide structure includes a guide rail.
In some embodiments, the biasing member includes a spring and the column structure includes a rod portion extending inside the spring. The rod portion extends inside the spring to prevent a buckling/deformation of the spring under a self-weight of the pouch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Having thus described example embodiments of the present disclosure in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a dispensing machine, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 2 illustrated the dispensing machine of FIG. 1 with some portions of the dispensing machine removed and depicting a plurality of holders of the dispensing machine holding a plurality of pouches arranged in an inverted position, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the dispensing machine with the pouches removed from the holders, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a single holder of FIG. 3 mounted on a frame of the dispensing machine, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; and
FIG. 5 illustrates a sectional perspective view of the holder of FIG. 4, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DISCRIPTION

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, apparatus and methods are shown in block diagram form only in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure.
Reference in this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The appearance of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Further, the terms "a" and "an" herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not for other embodiments.
Some embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, embodiments of the disclosure are shown. Indeed, various embodiments of the disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The use of any term should not be taken to limit the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present disclosure.
The embodiments are described herein for illustrative purposes and are subject to many variations. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient but are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or the scope of the present disclosure. Further, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. Any heading utilized within this description is for convenience only and has no legal or limiting effect.
Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a dispensing machine 100 is shown, according to example embodiments of the disclosure. The dispensing machine 100 is configured to facilitate a dispensing of a fluid stored inside at least one pouch 200 (shown in FIG. 2), and includes a cabinet 102 defining a storage space 104 in which the at least one pouch 200 is arranged.
As shown in FIG. 2, the pouch 200 includes a bag container 202 defining a chamber (not shown) to store the fluid, and a spout 206 coupled to the bag container 202 to facilitate an exit of the fluid from the bag container 202. The spout 206 includes a first portion 208 arranged outwardly of the bag container 202 and a second portion (not shown) extending inside the bag container 202 and . In the illustrated embodiment, the bag container 202 is a side gusset type container 210 having a front wall 212, a rear wall 214 arranged opposite to the front wall 212, and a pair of side gussets 216 arranged opposite to each other and extending between the front wall 212 and the rear wall 214. Further, upper edges of the front wall 212 and the rear wall 214 are connected/ fused to each other defining a top edge 220 of the bag container 202, and lower edges of the front wall 212 and the rear wall 214 are connected/fused to each other defining a lower edge 222 of the bag container 202. The front wall 212, the rear wall 214, the side gussets 216 together define the chamber to store the fluid. The front wall 212 and the rear wall 214 move towards each other, and each of the side gussets 216, 218 collapse on itself in response to exit of the fluid from the bag container 202, and may be arranged in a collapsed configuration when the bag container 202 becomes empty. In the collapsed configuration (shown in FIG. 1), some portions of the front wall 212 and the rear wall 214 may be arranged abutting each other, and the side gussets 216 are folded along respective center line such that the side gussets 216 are arranged between inner surfaces of the front wall 212 and the rear wall 214. The bag container 202 further includes a support wall 230 extending outwardly from the lower edge 222 and defines at least one opening 232 to facilitate a hanging of the pouch 200 in an inverted position (shown in FIG. 2) inside the storage space 104 of the cabinet 102.
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the cabinet 102 includes a frame 110 having a base plate 112 and a plurality of sidewalls 116, for example, four sidewalls, extending upwardly from the base plate 112, and the storage space 104 is defined between the sidewalls 116 and the base plate 112. Further, the dispensing machine 100 includes at least one holder 120 arranged inside the cabinet 102 and supported on the frame 110 to hold the at least one pouch 200 in the inverted position. As best shown in FIG. 3, the frame 110 includes a base bracket 122 coupled to the base plate 112 and extending inside the storage space 104, and the holder 120 is attached to the base bracket 122. The base bracket 122 includes a vertically extending channel 124 (shown in FIG. 5) with an opening 126 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) arranged at an upper end of the base bracket 122, while a lower end of the base bracket 122 is attached to the base plate 112. In an embodiment, the base bracket 122 is integral to the base plate 112. Alternatively, the base bracket 122 is fastened to the base plate 112 using suitable fasteners.
Referring to FIG. 2 to 5, the holder 120 includes a hanger 130 movably coupled to the frame 110 (i.e., base bracket 122) and is adapted to move vertically, inside the storage space 104, relative to the frame 110 between a vertically upward position and a vertically downward position. As shown, the hanger 130 includes a column structure 132 extending in a vertical direction and having a lower end 134 and an upper end 136, and an arm 138 arranged at the upper end 136 of the column structure 132. The arm 138 extends in a horizontal direction and is arranged substantially perpendicularly to the column structure 132, and accordingly the hanger 130 includes a substantially inverted L-shape. Further, the hanger 130 includes at least one hook 140 coupled to the arm 138 to enable the holding of the pouch 200 in the inverted position. As shown in FIG. 3, the at least one hook 140 extends through the opening 232 of the support wall 230 of the pouch 200 (i.e., bag container 202).
The holder 120 further includes a guide structure 150 extending vertically from the base plate 112 and along a side of the base bracket 122 and engaged with the base plate 112 and the base bracket 122. The guide structure 150 facilitates a movable coupling of the hanger 130 with the frame 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide structure 150 includes a guide rail 152 and the column structure 132 is slidably coupled to the guide rail 152, and is arranged to guide the vertical movement of the column structure 132 (i.e., hanger 130) relative to the frame 110. As shown, the column structure 132 includes a plate portion 154 extending from the arm 138 towards the lower end 134 and slidably engaged with the guide rail 152, and a rod portion 156 extending from the plate portion 154 to the lower end 134 and having a width smaller than the plate portion 154. Accordingly, a step 160 is defined at the interface of the plate portion 154 and the rod portion 156. It may be appreciated that the hanger 130 is biased to the vertically upward position and is displaced downwardly due to the weight of the at least one pouch 200 mounted to the hook 140.
To bias the hanger 130 to the vertically upward position, the holder 120 includes a biasing member 170 engaged to the frame 110 and the hanger 130 i.e., column structure 132. As shown, the biasing member 170 is a spring 172 having a first end 174 (i.e., lower end 174) arranged inside the vertically extending channel 124 and attached to the base bracket 122 and a second end 176 (i.e., upper end 176) attached to the step 160 of the column structure 132. Accordingly, at least a portion of the spring 172 extends inside the channel 124 and a remaining portion of the spring 172 extends outside the channel 124 through the opening 126 of the channel 124 with the rod portion 156 of the column structure 132 extending inside the spring 172. The arrangement of a portion of the spring 172 inside the base bracket 122 and extension of the rod portion 156 inside the spring 172 prevents a buckling/deformation of the vertically arranged spring 172 when the spring 172 is compressed in response to the downward movement of the hanger 130 from the vertically upward position under the weight of the pouch 200.
Further, to facilitate the dispensing of the fluid from the pouch 200, the first portion 208 of the spout 206 is arranged, at least partially, inside a conduit 182 of a fixture 180 of the dispensing machine 100. The spout 206 is removably engaged with the fixture 180 to enable the dispensing of the fluid from the pouch 200 in response to an operation of the dispensing machine 100. Accordingly, the fluid stored inside the pouch 200 is dispensed through the conduit 182 of the fixture 180 and flows to a dispensing nozzle of the dispensing machine 100. It may be appreciated that the scope of the disclosure is not limited by a mechanism that facilitates an exit of the fluid from the spout 208 of the pouch 200 to the nozzle of the dispensing machine 100.
As the liquid is dispensed or flows out from the pouch 200 (i.e., bag container 202), the load on the spring 172 of the holder 120 decreases. This causes the hanger 130 to move upwardly towards the vertically upward position due to the biasing force of the spring 172. Due to the movement of the hanger 130 in the upward direction, the bag container 202 is stretched vertically as the support wall 230 is connected to the hook 140, while the spout 206 of the pouch 200 is attached to the fixture 180 and therefore cannot move. Accordingly, the front wall 212 and the rear wall 214 move together in a manner similar to squeezing the bag container 202 with hands to remove the fluid from the pouch 200. Accordingly, the holder 120 enables the dispensing of the maximum amount of the fluid from the pouch 200, reducing the fluid wastage.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosures set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these disclosures pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosures are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain example combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and/or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

A holder (120) for a dispensing machine (100), the holder (120) being configured to hold a pouch (200) containing a fluid in an inverted position to facilitate a dispensing of the fluid from the pouch (200),
characterized in that
the holder (120) comprises
a hanger (130) adapted to hold the pouch (200) in the inverted position and movably coupled to a frame (110) of the dispensing machine (100), the hanger (130) being arranged to move in a vertical direction relative to the frame (110); and

a biasing member (170) extending in the vertical direction with an upper end (176) of the biasing member (170) engaged with the hanger (130) and a lower end (174) of the biasing member (170) engaged with the frame (110), wherein the biasing member (170) biases the hanger (130) to a vertically upward position and is compressed in response to the downward movement of the hanger (130) from the vertically upward position under a load of the pouch (200).
The holder (120) of claim 1, wherein the hanger (130) includes
a column structure (132) extending in the vertical direction and coupled to the upper end (176) of the biasing member (170), and

an arm (138) extending substantially horizontally from an upper end (136) of the column structure (132) and configured to hold the pouch (200) in the inverted position.
The holder (120) of claim 2 further comprises a vertically extending guide structure (150), wherein the column structure (132) is slidably coupled to the guide structure (150) and is configured to guide the sliding of the column structure (132) in the vertical direction.
The holder (120) of claim 3, wherein the guide structure (150) includes a guide rail (152).
The holder (120) of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the biasing member (170) includes a spring (172), and the column structure (132) includes a rod portion (156) extending inside the spring (172).
A dispensing machine (100) for dispensing a fluid from a pouch (200), the dispensing machine (100) comprising:
a frame (110); and

a holder (120) supported on the frame (110),
characterized in that

the holder (120) comprises
a hanger (130) movably coupled to the frame (110) and adapted to hold the pouch (200) in the inverted position, the hanger (130) being arranged to move in a vertical direction relative to the frame (110), and

a biasing member (170) extending in the vertical direction with an upper end (176) of the biasing member (170) engaged with the hanger (130) and a lower end (174) of the biasing member (170) engaged with the frame (110), wherein the biasing member (170) biases the hanger (130) to a vertically upward position and is compressed is compressed in response to the downward movement of the hanger (130) from the vertically upward position under a load of the pouch (200).
The dispensing machine (100) of claim 6, wherein the hanger (130) includes
a column structure (132) extending in the vertical direction and coupled to the upper end (176) of the biasing member (170), and

an arm (138) extending substantially horizontally from an upper end (136) of the column structure (132) and configured to hold the pouch (200) in the inverted position.
The dispensing machine (100) of claim 7, wherein the holder (120) further comprises a vertically extending guide structure (150), wherein the column structure (132) is slidably coupled to the guide structure (150) and is configured to guide the sliding of the column structure (132) in the vertical direction.
The dispensing machine (100) of claim 8, wherein the guide structure (150) includes a guide rail (152).
The dispensing machine (100) of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the biasing member (170) includes a spring (172), and the column structure (132) includes a rod portion (156) extending inside the spring (172).