FR2801573A1 - DEVICE FOR DISPENSING LIQUID OR CREAMY PRODUCT AND RECEPTACLE PROVIDED THEREFOR - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for dispensing a liquid or creamy product on a thin receptacle (1). The device comprises a detector (2, 3) suitable for detecting a receptacle (1) introduced by a user and a dispensing mechanism (6, 8) triggered by the detector, in the event of detection of a receptacle, for delivering a quantity of the product at a selected location in the receptacle. Application to the distribution of perfumery or hygiene products at points of sale.

Description

Liquid or cream product dispensing device and receptacle

  provided for this purpose The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a liquid or creamy product on a thin receptacle,

commonly known as a seagull.

  Such receptacles are used in points of sale, in particular in perfumeries, to receive perfumes or cosmetic products and allow customers

to test these perfumes or products.

  The test at the points of sale of this type of product is traditionally carried out by handling a container allowing the manual deposit of a dose of product on a

  thin receptacle, for example of cardboard.

  Such manipulation often leads to a waste of products and, moreover, is not always done under the conditions

hygiene standards.

  We also know, in particular from the publications FR-

  A-2 758 132 and FR-A-2 763 320, devices capable of allowing the distribution of such products on a receptacle

  slim. However, these devices are complex and costly.

  brants and are hardly compatible with use

  intensive in traditional points of sale.

  The object of the invention is in particular to overcome the drawbacks

mentioned above.

  It aims in particular to provide a device for distributing

  bution of the aforementioned type which is of simple construction and

  robust and, moreover, space-saving.

  It also aims to provide such a distribution device which does not require complex control means and

expensive to make.

  To this end, the invention provides a device for dispensing a liquid or creamy product onto a thin receptacle, which comprises a detector capable of detecting a receptacle introduced by a user into the device, and a dispensing mechanism triggered by the detector, in the event of detection of a receptacle, to deliver a quantity

  product data in a selected location of the receptacle.

  The device according to the invention thus allows the distribution of a dose of liquid or creamy product using a

  slim receptacle for actuating dispensing.

  Indeed, the action of product distribution is induced

  by detecting the receptacle in the device.

  The invention guarantees that the product will be tested under optimal hygienic conditions, since the user

  will only be in contact with the dose intended for him.

  The invention also makes it possible to guarantee to the owner of the product that no massive use of his product will be possible, since the product is only dispensed dose

per dose on an autonomous support.

  Preferably, the detector is sensitive to the presence or to the

passage of a receptacle.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the detector comprises mechanical means. However, it can also, as a variant or in addition, include means

  electric, pneumatic or optical.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the detector comprises gripping means suitable for grasping one end of the receptacle when it is inserted into the device, and for triggering the dispensing mechanism during

of its withdrawal.

  Advantageously, the gripping means comprise an eccentric wheel, integral with a mobile carriage, this carriage being displaceable in translation when the receptacle is withdrawn, while this receptacle is held by the gripping means, to trigger the dispensing mechanism.

  Thus, when the receptacle is inserted into the device

  tif, it is inserted into the gripping means to be retained by the latter. When the receptacle is then removed from the device by the user, it remains maintained

  temporarily by the gripping means and ensures the movement

  ment in translation of the mobile carriage, which allows

  trigger the dispensing mechanism.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the dispensing mechanism comprises a metering pump supplied with

  product and connected to a distribution tube for the product.

  According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the device comprises a housing provided with an insertion zone

for the receptacle.

  The device of the invention may further comprise a mechanism allowing the identification of the product, for example by using an ink pad suitable for being triggered by the detector to personalize and identify the product on the receptacle. In another aspect, the invention relates to a receptacle suitable for use with a device as defined above, this receptacle comprising a support having

a shape adapted to the detector.

  The support can be a conformed rigid support obtained by

thermoforming or injection.

  It can also be a support made of a deformable material,

formed by folding or embossing.

  Preferably, the receptacle comprises a determined zone for receiving the product. This reception zone can be formed directly on the receptacle itself, or else be

  formed of an absorbent material, attached to the support.

  In the following description, made only as

  example, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a side view of a dispensing device in one embodiment of the invention; - Figure 2 is a top view corresponding to Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 in an alternative embodiment of the invention; - Figure 4 is a top view corresponding to Figure 3; - Figure 5 is a top view of a receptacle suitable for use with the device of the invention; - Figure 6 is a top view of a receptacle according to another embodiment of the invention; - Figure 7 is a side view corresponding to Figure 6; - Figures 8 and 9 are top views of receptacles

  according to two other embodiments of the invention.

  Reference is first made to FIGS. 1 and 2 which represent a device capable of dispensing a liquid or creamy product, in particular a perfume or a cosmetic product, on a thin receptacle 1. This receptacle 1 is here produced in the form of a flat support, for example made of cardboard,

  general rectangular, of configuration adapted to the arrangement

tif.

  The receptacle 1 is held by a user, by his

  rear rear mity, while its front front end is intro

  picks up inside the device in the direction of arrow Fl. The receptacle 1 is positioned between a wheel 2 whose axis of rotation is off-center and a carriage 3 secured to the wheel. This carriage is movable in translation in the direction of the double arrow F2 so as to be able to slide on a slide 4 provided on a bottom plate 12 of the device. This bottom plate is integral with a housing 13 (partially shown in Figure 1) which envelops

  the device and which is provided with a slot 14 for the introduction

tion of the receptacle 1.

  The wheel 2 and the carriage 3 constitute gripping means which grip the front end of the receptacle and form a detector of the presence of the receptacle after its introduction

  through the slot 14 of the housing.

  The carriage 3 comprises a lower plate 15 which forms a support plate opposite the wheel 2. The latter is capable of rotating in rotation about an axis 16 which is

parallel to the plane of the plate 15.

  In addition, the carriage 3 is integral with a lever 5 exerting pressure on the head of a metering pump 6 (Figure 2). The dosing pump is connected by a supply tube 7 to a reserve of product and by a distribution tube 8 to a

support 9 secured to the carriage 3.

  The distribution tube 8 is placed on the support 9 so that its end is positioned above the receptacle 1, so as to deliver a metered amount of the

  product in a chosen location of receptacle 1.

  The sensor wheel 2 is secured to an exhaust lever.

  pement 10 abuts on a fixed point 11 at the end of the movement necessary for distribution. This fixed point 11 serves as a cam stop for the exhaust lever 10. The carriage 3 is connected to the lever arm 5 by a tie rod 17. The lever arm 5 is pivotally mounted on the bottom 12 of the device around a axis 18 and it is also articulated around a pivot 19 on the head 20 of the dosing pump. A return spring (not shown), incorporated in the dosing pump, recalls the carriage 3 and the dial 2 in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, in which the

  cart is located near the dosing pump.

  When a receptacle 1 is introduced through the slot 14 of the housing, its front end AV is placed between the support plate 15 and the wheel 12, which causes the rotation of the latter in a counterclockwise direction. Figure 1, and at the same time causes the lifting of the exhaust lever 10 which deviates from the fixed point 11 (stop

cam).

  Then, the user exerts traction in the opposite direction on the receptacle 1, that is to say in the direction of the arrow F3. Since the front end of the receptacle is held in engagement between the support plate 15 and the wheel 12, the traction thus exerted causes the carriage to move in the same direction (arrow F3). This traction is transmitted to the lever arm 5 by the tie rod 17, which activates the metering pump and delivers a metered amount of

product on receptacle 1.

  During this pulling movement, the exhaust lever 10 pivots clockwise (Figure 1) to block the receptacle due to the eccentric axis of the thumb wheel. Then the lever 10 advances the carriage until it comes to bear on the fixed point 11 of the stop. When this lever has come to a stop, the wheel moves away from the support plate 15, which frees the receptacle 1. The user thus recovers the receptacle, on which a metered amount of product has been delivered to a zone of reception determined. During this time, the carriage returns to its starting position under the action of the spring means and is ready to operate for

  dispense a dose of product on another receptacle.

  The device of Figures 3 and 4 is similar to that of Figures 1 and 2, and the common elements are designated by

same reference numbers.

  It also includes an ink pad 21 capable of being triggered by the detector to personalize and identify the product on the receptacle. This ink pad is mounted at one end 22 of an arm 23 which is mounted oscillating around

  an axis 24 of the carriage. The arm 23 has another end

  mite 25 which is folded up and cooperates with a cam track 26 carried by the bottom plate 12. The ink pad is produced in the form of a cylindrical element mounted for free rotation about an axis 27 and comprising a clean absorbent material to receive an inked print pattern at

from an ink element 28.

  Due to the cam track 26, the arm 23 supporting the pad

  ink roller pivots about its axis, which allows synchronization

  tighten the movement of the ink pad with that of the carriage.

  During the introduction of the receptacle, or during its removal, the ink pad comes into contact with a determined region of the receptacle to form there an inking pattern suitable for personalizing and identifying the product. This pattern can be used in particular to give the user information about

  the product distributed on this receptacle.

  Reference is now made to FIG. 5 which represents a receptacle 1 according to the invention in its simplest embodiment. This is a receptacle formed from a simple sheet of cardboard or the like, of generally rectangular shape. This receptacle must have a shape, in particular a width and a thickness, adapted to the detector of the device so that they can cooperate during

of detection.

  In the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7, the receptacle

  key is shaped so as to define a reception area 29 which, in the example, has the shape of a bowl. This bowl is an integral part of the receptacle and is shaped

  in a chosen region of it.

  Such a receptacle is particularly suitable for receiving a creamy product. In this case, the receptacle advantageously consists of a shaped rigid support obtained by thermoforming or injection. We then benefit from

  make a plastic receptacle.

  In the embodiment of Figure 8, the receptacle

  also includes a product reception area 22. Any-

  times, this reception area is treated here. It may for example be an absorbent material, which is attached to the support. As absorbent material, there may be used, for example, a woven material, a non-woven material, a raw material, such as cotton, etc. In the embodiment of Figure 9, the receptacle comprises a support 31 of a deformable material, for example of the cardboard type, which is formed by folding or embossing to delimit a zone for receiving the product. The receptacle comprises several fold lines defined here by

broken lines.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above by way of example, and it

extends to other variants.

  In general, the device of the invention comprises detector means sensitive to the presence of the product. These detector means can be mechanical and / or electrical

and / or tires.

  These means must be sensitive to the presence or passage of a receptacle in the device. Thus, the receptacle can be introduced into the device in an appropriate zone, for example through a slot, as in the example of

  previous achievement, then removed in reverse.

  It is also possible to envisage other embodiments in which the receptacle is continuously slid in the same direction, through a slot or

  of a groove that the device comprises.

  The receptacle can be detected during a

  movement of movement of the latter which can be horizontal-

tal, vertical or oblique.

  The triggering of the dispensing mechanism can be mechanical and / or electrical and / or pneumatic and / or optical. This distribution mechanism is also not limited to a

metering pump.

  The dispensing device of the invention can be designed

  to distribute one or more products on the same recepta-

  key or on different receptacles.

  It may be advantageous to provide an ink pad, or other identification device, capable of being triggered by the detector to personalize the receptacle. Thus, such a stamp can mention on the receptacle the name or the

  Brand of the product which has just been distributed.

  The user can thus compare several samples,

  while being able to identify them by name.

  The invention finds a particular application in the distribution

  consumption of perfumery or hygiene products.

Claims (14)

Claims   1. Device for dispensing liquid or creamy product on a thin receptacle, characterized in that it comprises a detector (2, 3) capable of detecting a receptacle (1) introduced by a user into the device, and a dispensing mechanism (6, 8)   triggered by the detector, if a receptacle is detected   key, to deliver a quantity of the product in one place chosen from the receptacle.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the detector (2, 3) is sensitive to the presence or to the passage of a receptacle (1).   3. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2,   characterized in that the detector (2, 3) comprises means mechanical.   4. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2,   characterized in that the detector (2, 3) comprises means   electric or pneumatic or optical.   5. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the detector comprises gripping means (2, 3) adapted to grasp one end (AV) of the receptacle (1) during its introduction and to trigger the dispensing mechanism when removed.   6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the gripping means comprise an eccentric wheel (2) integral with a mobile carriage (3), and in that said carriage is displaceable in translation when the receptacle is removed, then that this receptacle is maintained by the gripping means,   to trigger the dispensing mechanism. he   7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that the dispensing mechanism comprises a dosing pump (6) supplied with product and connected to a   product distribution tube (8).   8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7,   characterized in that it comprises a housing (13) provided with a   introduction zone (14) for the receptacle (1).   9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8,   characterized in that it comprises an ink pad (21) suitable for being triggered by the detector to personalize   and identify the product on the receptacle.   10. Receptacle suitable for use with a device   according to one of claims 1 to 9 and comprising a support   having a shape adapted to the detector.   11. Receptacle according to claim 10, characterized in that the support is a rigid shaped support obtained by thermoforming or injection.   12. Receptacle according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a support made of a deformable material, formed by folding or embossing.   13. Receptacle according to one of claims 10 to 12,   characterized in that it comprises a reception area (29, ) of the product.   14. Receptacle according to claim 13, characterized in that the receiving zone (29) of the product is formed in a   absorbent material, attached to the support.