FR3049267A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REFILLING LIQUID FROM A BOTTLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a liquid refilling system for a container, comprising: a first container (S) which contains liquid, a second container (R) to be refilled with the liquid of the first container (S). ), the second container (R) comprising a bottom at one end, a dip tube (R14) extending in the direction of the bottom and a pump (R16) mounted on the container at an opposite end, the pump being equipped with an air vent (O) which is adapted to be opened or closed in the open or closed position of the pump, the second container (R) being in the inverted position with the pump located below the bottom; a system for extracting liquid from the container (S) by suctioning and injecting under pressure the extracted liquid into the second container (R) to be refilled through the open vent of the pump open, the system being external to the first container (S).

Description

The invention relates to a system and method for liquid refilling of a flask.

It is known that vials containing liquid and which are equipped with a pump are very difficult or impossible to refill when the vial is empty or almost empty and the user wants to keep it.

Indeed, conventionally, the pumps are mounted on the bottles in such a way that disassembly is impossible, or in any case very difficult, without damaging the pumps and / or bottles.

It would therefore be useful to design a system for refilling a vial equipped with a pump without the need to remove the pump and without questioning the actual design of vials on the market.

The subject of the present invention is thus a liquid refilling system for a container, characterized in that it comprises: at least one first container S containing liquid, at least one second container containing R filling with the liquid of the first container S, said at least one second container R comprising a bottom at one end, a plunger tube which extends towards the bottom and a pump mounted on the container at an opposite end, the pump being equipped at least one vent orifice which is adapted to be open or closed in the open or closed position of the pump, said at least one second container R being in the inverted position with the pump located below the bottom a system for extracting liquid from said at least one S container by suctioning and injecting under pressure the liquid extracted into said at least one second container R to be refilled through said at least one orifice is open to the open air of the open pump, the system being external to said at least one first container S.

The system for extracting liquid by suction and injection molding under liquid pressure makes it possible to draw liquid from the first container (this container generally does not have a pump), then to transfer under pressure, to the second container, liquid sucked without removing the pump from the second container (this is particularly useful when the pump does not disassemble without degrading the container, however, even when the pump is disassembled it is advantageous not to have to disassemble it to refill, for example to save time). This system does not use pressurized gas to move the liquid to the second container (injection phase). The pressure is in fact mechanically applied directly to the previously extracted liquid. The re-filling system thus offers a high accuracy in the volume of injected liquid (dosing of the injected volume) insofar as gas compression and therefore inertia phenomena do not occur during refilling of the second container. . The extraction and injection system being external to the container S it does not depend on the space available in this container. The extraction and injection system can be bulky without this being a constraint vis-à-vis the container S.

According to other possible characteristics: the system for extraction by aspiration and injection under liquid pressure comprises at least one reservoir external to said at least one first container S and which is capable of receiving the extracted liquid before its injection under pressure in said at least one second container to be refilled R; an external reservoir makes it possible not to be dependent on the space available in the container S; the external reservoir can therefore be bulky, as well as, in general, the extraction and injection system; said at least one external reservoir is configured to deliver at least a predetermined volume of liquid during the injection under pressure; this configuration allows for accurate dosing during injection, as well as during the extraction of liquid; - The suction extraction system and liquid pressure injection comprises at least one of the following: a pumping device, a piston device, a vane pump, a pear-type pump; - The system comprises a container E which is adapted to be fluidly connected with said at least one second container to be filled R for the recovery of liquid present in the latter; this makes it possible not to mix in the second container the residual liquid (ex: old perfume) with the refilling liquid (ex: new perfume); this also makes it possible to ensure that the space available in the container R is sufficient to receive the injected dose (s) of liquid (ex: dose (s) of perfume sold); the system comprises a filling interface I connecting the suction extraction system and the liquid pressure injection system, on the one hand, to said at least one first container S, and, on the other hand, to said at least one second containing to refill R; the filling interface I comprises a set of ducts connecting the suction extraction system and the injection system under liquid pressure, on the one hand, to said at least one first container S, and, on the other hand, to said least a second container to be refilled R, at least some of the conduits being equipped with non-return members to allow a single direction of passage of liquid and / or gas in the conduit or conduits.

The present invention also relates to a liquid refilling process of a container, characterized in that the method is implemented from a system which comprises: - at least a first container S which contains liquid, - at least one second container R to be refilled with the liquid of said at least one first container S, said at least one second container R comprising a bottom at one end, a plunger tube which extends towards the bottom and a mounted pump on the container at an opposite end, the pump being equipped with at least one venting port which is open when the pump is open, said at least one second container R being in the inverted position with the pump located in below the bottom, the method comprising the following steps: extraction by suction of liquid from said at least one first container S to fill at least one tank external to said at least one first tale S with extracted liquid, - injection under pressure, from said at least one external reservoir filled with extracted liquid, of at least a predetermined volume of liquid in said at least one second container to be refilled R, the injection under pressure being carried out through said at least one open venting port of the open pump, gas contained in said at least one second container to be refilled R being discharged to the outside thereof, through the open pump. The same advantages as discussed above in connection with the system apply to the process.

According to other possible characteristics: the liquid extraction step controls the volume of extracted liquid which fills the said at least one external reservoir; this makes it possible to dose the volume of liquid extracted; the step of injection under pressure of liquid controls said at least one predetermined volume of injected liquid; this makes it possible to dose the injected liquid volume (s); the step of injection under pressure of liquid is carried out by exerting a thrust on the liquid filling said at least one external reservoir, the thrust is exerted by a member or mechanical element and not a gas, which eliminates the phenomena of inertia due to gas; when it is planned to stop the injection of liquid, the effect is instantaneous and the filling is therefore performed with great precision; the method comprises a prior step of opening said at least one venting port by opening the pump of said at least one second container to be refilled R; this makes it possible to refill said at least one second container without having to disassemble its pump; prior to the steps of extraction by suction of liquid and injection under pressure of liquid extracted in said at least one second container to be refilled R, the method comprises a step of emptying the liquid that may be present in said minus a second container to refill R before refilling; this makes it possible not to mix in the second container the residual liquid (ex: old perfume) with the refilling liquid (ex: new perfume); this also makes it possible to ensure that the space available in the container R is sufficient to receive the injected dose (s) of liquid (ex: dose (s) of perfume sold); the emptying step is carried out with the pump of the at least one second container to be refilled R above the bottom and, after the emptying step, said at least one second container to be refilled R is returned in order to perform the steps of extraction by suction of liquid and injection under pressure of liquid extracted in said at least one second container to be refilled R returned; the emptying step is carried out, on the one hand, by injecting a pressurized gas into said at least one second container to be filled R, through said at least one venting orifice; open of the open pump and, secondly, by recovering, at the outlet of the open pump, the liquid that may be present in the at least one second container to be refilled R, after this liquid has passed successively through the dip tube and pump open; - Prior to the emptying step, the method comprises a priming step which comprises a step of suction of a gas to fill said at least one external reservoir with the gas sucked, the injection of gas under pressure interior of said at least one second container to be refilled (R) for the emptying step being carried out from said at least one external tank filled with gas by exerting a thrust on the gas to extract it from said at least one tank . The same suction steps in the tank and pressure injection are used for priming and emptying (with gas) as well as for dosing and filling (with liquid). Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a general schematic view of a system of refilling in liquid of a container according to an embodiment of the invention; this figure illustrates a boot step of a method of implementing the system; FIG. 2 illustrates a step of emptying the method of implementing the system; FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate a reversal step of the method of implementing the system; FIG. 4 illustrates a step of assaying the method of implementing the system; FIG. 5 illustrates a step of filling the method of implementing the system; - Figures 6 to 9 respectively illustrate the steps of priming, emptying, dosing, and filling a method of implementation of a system according to another embodiment of the invention; FIG. 10a is a variant illustrating a possible motorized actuation of the systems of FIGS. 1 to 9; - Figure 10b is a variant of a motorized actuation to jointly perform the dosing and filling steps.

As shown in FIG. 1 and denoted by the general reference denoted 10, a liquid refilling system of a container according to one embodiment of the invention comprises several distinct elements or components which are physically separated from each other . The system 10 can adopt different positions during its operation according to whether it is in a re-filling position of the second container R or not. In the rest of the description we will talk about filling for the sake of simplification instead of talking about re-filling.

Figure 1 shows the system 10 in a position which is not that corresponding to a filling step. The position of Figure 1 corresponds to a first position in which the system 10 is arranged to perform steps prior to filling the system (priming and emptying).

The system 10 thus comprises: a first container S, referred to as a source container in the remainder of the description, which contains liquid, for example in an amount sufficient to fill one or more other containers, a second container R to be filled with the liquid of the first container S (this second container has already been used to dispense liquid and either it does not contain any more liquid or it contains but in insufficient quantity, in both cases this container needs to be refilled with liquid in a simple way ). an SEI system for extracting liquid from the source container S by suction and injecting the extracted liquid (or a fraction of the volume of extracted liquid) under pressure into the second container R to be filled.

The SEI liquid extraction and injection system is external to the source container S. In this embodiment, the source container S is not equipped with a pump or a dip tube.

In the position of FIG. 1, the source container S is not in the inverted position but is in the normal use position with its opening S1 facing upwards (the opening S1 is located above the bottom S2 or at all case at a higher dimension than the bottom) and in particular in a vertical position, the bottom being for example placed on a flat surface.

The source container S is surmounted by a part S3 in order to shut off its opening S1 in a controlled manner. The part S3 is fixed around the neck S4 which internally delimits the opening S1 of the container. The S4 collar can be equipped with an external thread.

The part S3 comprises a body S30 from which extends axially a skirt S32 provided with an internal thread complementary to the external thread of the neck S4 to allow fixing by screwing the workpiece on the container. Other methods of attachment are possible, especially if the collar S3 is not threaded externally.

The body S30 is here crossed by two passages P1 and P2: the passage P1 connects the inside of the container (via the opening) and the outside of the container to allow the aspiration of ambient air; this passage is for example equipped with a non-return member C1 such as a ball valve to prevent the release of air or liquid (depending on the position of the container) through this passage; the passage P2 connects the inside of the container (via the opening) to an external conduit which will be described later; this conduit is used for the passage of air or liquid (depending on the position of the container) of the container towards the outside thereof.

The second container R is a conventional container in the sense that it has not been developed specifically for the purposes of the invention. It can therefore be a commercial container.

The second container R comprises, in general, a bottom R12 disposed at a first of the two opposite ends of the container, a dip tube R14 which extends towards the bottom (here the dip tube does not touch the bottom; other configurations the tube may be flexible and, because of its length, it is slightly curved in contact with the bottom) and a pump R16 which is mounted on the bottle, for example non-removable (for example by crimping) , at a second opposite end, where is the opening R18 of the container. The pump R16 disposed in the opening is equipped with at least one venting orifice O which is able to be opened or closed in the open or closed position of the pump. In the position of Figure 1 the pump is open (or pressed inside the container) and said at least one vent hole O is open to allow the passage of a fluid (here the air ) through, as we will see later.

In the position of Figure 1 the second container R is not in the inverted position but is in the normal use position with the opening facing upwards (the pump 16 is located above the bottom RI2 or in any case at a dimension higher than that of the bottom) and in particular in vertical position (this position could, however, be inclined with respect to the vertical axis insofar as the opening is always turned upwards), for example with the bottom placed on a flat surface.

As shown in Figure 1, the pump RI6 is mounted here on the container R via a crimping capsule C which bears on the outside of the neck Rc of the container and is crimped around it.

Conventionally, the pump RI6 comprises a fixed part (body) RI 7 which is introduced through the opening RI8 of the neck Rc. The fixed part RI7 is fixedly mounted on the container thanks to the crimping cap C fixed around the neck Rc. The fixed portion RI7 extends partly outside the container to cooperate with the capsule for example by a shoulder and partly inside the container where it is extended by the plunger tube or suction tube RI 4 fixed at the fixed part.

The pump R16 comprises, inside the fixed part R17, a movable part (piston) RI9 which is able to slide axially along the inner face of the fixed part R17, while ensuring a tight contact between the two parts. during this relative movement. The mobile part R19 comprises a first internal portion R19a mounted on a first return spring which bears on the inner face of the bottom F of the fixed part R17. The mobile part R19 also comprises a second portion R19b which extends, on the one hand, partly inside the fixed part and, on the other hand, partly outside (through the capsule C). in order to be operated from outside the bottle as will be explained below. The second portion R19b is mounted in abutment on the first inner portion R19a via a shoulder or collar bearing on a second return spring. This second portion R19b is an elongated piece which has a generally hollow stem shape. It will be noted that the mobile part R19 can be in one piece.

When the container is conventionally used a pusher not shown is generally mounted around the protruding portion of the second portion R19b in order to actuate the rod (by depression) and thus the pump from a rest position (not depressed ) not shown. This makes it possible to dispense liquid in a conventional manner from the container R when it contains liquid.

The fixed part R17 comprises a wall R17a which is pierced with one or more holes of which only one R17b is shown in FIG. 1. This or these holes make it possible to put in communication a chamber internal to the pump with the inside of the container. when the first internal portion R19a moves towards the inner face of the bottom F of the fixed part, under the action of driving the rod R19b, and releases the hole or holes R17b.

The bottom F of the fixed portion R1 7 is configured to include a valve system comprising a ball b housed in a cage c and a valve seat s arranged in said bottom F and which is pierced with an opening communicating with the inside the R14 tube. The tube R14 is embedded in a chimney R17c extending axially from the outer face of the bottom F of the fixed part RI7 and away from this face towards the bottom R12 of the bottle. The cage c extends axially from the inner face of the bottom F of the fixed part RI 7 and away from this face, inside the fixed part. The second return spring is arranged around the cage. The cage c is perforated laterally and may, for example, be made from several separate elements spaced from each other. The height of the cage is adjusted so that the ball b can move axially away from the valve seat s and thus put in communication the inside of the tube R14 and the inside of the fixed part R17. The ball b, however, remains trapped inside the cage c by the distal end thereof which is narrower than its base to stop the movement of the ball.

The wall R17a of the fixed part R17 has a shoulder R17d around which the capsule C is mounted.

The second portion R19b comprises, in its part which extends inside the fixed part R17, a flange R19b1 located at the outer periphery of the second portion so as to be held in abutment against the internal face of the capsule C under the action of the springs, when the pump is not depressed.

The second portion R19b comprises, in its part which extends outside the fixed part R17 and the capsule C (beyond the flange R19b1), a diameter shrinkage R19b2 near its distal end. This narrowing of diameter R19b2 makes it possible to create one or more orifices O for venting between this narrowing and an inner peripheral edge Ci delimiting the central opening of the capsule C and which is crossed by the second portion R19b when the second R19b portion is pressed inside the fixed part R17. In this depressed position of the pump, the outside of the container communicates with the inside of the fixed portion R17 of the pump via the orifices O for venting (orifice (s) open (s)) and with the inside of the bottle via the hole or holes R17b released from the wall of the pump. This arrangement thus creates a passage internal to the bottle (especially internal to the pump) for the passage of the outside air compensation in the conventional use of the container. In the position of the system 10 in Figures 1 and 2 this passage is used to convey ambient air inside the container R. However, during the subsequent filling step this passage will convey liquid into the container.

It should be noted that other pump configurations may be contemplated with different arrangements for communicating the outside of the vial with the interior thereof via one or more venting ports.

A piece R20 forming a pump cover is mounted around the capsule C and the neck of the bottle Rc generally by clamping and is open axially at its two opposite ends so as to be able, by a proximal end R20a, to be threaded onto the capsule and, by its distal opposite end R20b, leave free access to the second portion R19b and to a space between the part R20 and the part of the capsule C surrounding the second portion R19b. Note that the distal end R20b is provided with an inner peripheral rim or return r directed towards the portion of the capsule surrounding the second portion R19b.

A piece 40 is fixedly mounted on the container R. This part comprises a body in which are arranged internal passages or channels through the structure and which are used to circulate liquid or air (passages P3 and P4) according to the channel or passages concerned. The passage P3 communicates with said at least one venting orifice O and the passage P4 communicates with the inner conduit to the portion R19 of the pump and with the interior thereof, then with the tube R14.

The piece 40 comprises a mobile attachment portion 42 which is provided with fastening members 42a (eg: latches).

The hooking members 42a are turned towards the outside of the workpiece and serve to cooperate with one or more complementary hooking elements of the container R in order to fix the workpiece to the container by pushing the workpiece axially toward the container or vice versa. In this example, the complementary fastening element is formed by the inner peripheral r r of the distal end R20b of the pump cover and is inserted into an outer groove of a fastener 42a.

The fastening members are here secured to the mobile attachment portion 42 which is annular and disposed in an open housing of the body of the workpiece 40. The peripheral portion 42 surrounds a central portion 44 made of a flexible material (eg elastomer ) which receives the projecting portion of the pump R16 and which elastically deforms under axial stress in contact with the capsule C so as to form a seal. The central portion 44 is traversed by channels which form portions of the respective passages P3 and P4.

This piece 40 keeps the pump R16 open (or pressed inside the container) and thus the or O openings open. Other parts or mechanisms performing the same function may be used.

The system 10 also comprises a third container or container E which is adapted to be fluidly connected with the second container to be filled R.

In this example a conduit LO is connected to the passage P4 and enters the upper opening E1 of the container E particularly for the fluid flowing in this passage enters the container. The purpose of the container E is notably to recover the liquid present in the second container R. This is useful when it is desired to empty the second container before it is filled in order not to mix the liquids and possibly to reuse the collected liquid later. However, the container E could be fluidly connected to the container R in a different manner.

The system 10 also comprises a filling interface I which connects, in particular fluidly and also mechanically, the liquid extraction and injection system SEI, on the one hand, to the source container S and, on the other hand, the second container to fill R.

To provide these connections or connections the filling interface I comprises a set of connecting conduits which are intended for the circulation of one or more fluids. In this case, here, the ducts serve the passage of air and, alternatively, liquid (depending on the position of the system and the relevant step of the process).

As shown in FIG. 1, the set of connecting ducts comprises: a first duct L1 connecting the extraction and liquid injection system SEI to the second container to be filled R; a second conduit L2 which connects the source container S to the liquid extraction and injection system SEI for example via the first conduit L1.

In this example, the second conduit L2 is directly connected to the first conduit. However, it could be considered that it is the opposite configuration: the first conduit L1 is connected to the second conduit L2 which is directly connected to the liquid extraction and injection system SEI. According to yet another approach, the duct assembly comprises three ducts, a main duct connected to the SEI liquid extraction and injection system and to which are connected a second duct connected to the source container S and a third duct connected to the second duct. container to fill R.

In this example, the ducts L1 and L2 are each equipped with non-return members respectively C3 and C2 to allow a single direction of passage of air or liquid (depending on the position of the system and the relevant step of the method) in the ducts.

The SEI liquid extraction and injection system here comprises a reservoir RE which is external to the source container S, that is to say which is distinct and here remote from the source container S. The reservoir RE is adapted to receiving the liquid which is extracted from the source container S before its injection under pressure into the second container to be filled R. The reservoir has a function of temporary storage of the extracted liquid. The shape of the tank does not matter. The dimensions of the reservoir must be sufficient to collect the liquid extracted from the source container S. The extracted liquid may represent the total volume of liquid of the source container S or a fraction thereof. The volume of the reservoir can thus be chosen so as to be able to store the entire volume of the source container or only a fraction of this volume, especially if it is planned to take only a fraction of the total volume at each extraction. The reservoir RE has graduations in order to locate the level of the stored liquid and thus to know the volume of corresponding liquid. Other types of marks or different marks or means may be used.

The SEI liquid extraction and injection system comprises a pumping device which here is a piston pumping device. The piston pump device here takes the form of a piston P which moves by axial sliding inside a reservoir RE or cylinder body. The reservoir comprises, at a first end, a first opening RE1 which is sealingly connected to the conduit L1 and allows the passage of fluid (air or liquid). The reservoir also comprises, at an opposite second end, a bottom sealingly closing the reservoir and pierced with a hole for the passage of the piston rod T. The sealing is carried out in a known manner at this hole for allow axial sliding (in both directions) of the rod through the hole. Actuation of the piston can be carried out manually or motorized or by means of a PLC or other actuating means. Other mechanisms or alternative devices that allow to extract by suction of the liquid and to inject under pressure all or part of the extracted liquid can be used. By way of example, other pumping devices, a vane pump ... can alternatively be used.

We will now describe a possible mode of operation of the system 10 in relation to Figures 1 to 5. In general, this mode is broken down into two main stages or phases: before emptying the container to fill and then filling. However, in the detailed example that follows other steps can be added.

In the position of Figure 1 a boot step of the system 10 is implemented.

The containers S, R and E are here all arranged with the opening upwards. During this step an aspiration of at least a fraction of the liquid present in the source container S is created. To do this, in the present example of embodiment the piston P is moved back in the direction of the arrow (FIG. to remove the rod t from the tank. By moving the piston back into the reservoir, a suction is created on the front face fl of the piston. Under this effect of depression the valve C3 closes and the valves Cl and C2 open. The air external to the source container S (ambient air) is sucked through the valve Cl into the passage PI, passes, as indicated by the arrows inside the container S, from the top of the latter in the passage P2, then in the conduit L2, through the valve C2, in the upstream portion of conduit L1 and in the reservoir RE to arrive in front of the face f1 of the piston. At the end of the stroke the tank is for example filled with air and the extraction and injection system SEI is primed (ready for a draining step, that is to say for the injection of air). It should be noted that the position of the piston pump does not matter for this step.

In Figure 2, the emptying step of the second container R is implemented. To do this, the air previously extracted by suction via the source container R is injected under pressure into the second container R. The piston P is pushed from outside the system SEI to slide in the tank in the direction indicated by the arrow and move towards the RE1 opening. The piston thus exerts pressure on the volume of air contained in the reservoir (previously sucked air). Under the effect of this pressure the valve C2 closes and the valve C3 opens. The pressurized air is thus transferred from the reservoir to the conduit L1, passes through the valve C3, passes through the venting port (s) O of the pump R16 of the second container R, by the latter and up to the inside of the container as represented by the arrows internal to the latter. This compressed air exerts pressure on the liquid present in this container R (liquid remaining or residual). The liquid subjected to the pressure can then go up in the plunger tube R14, in the open pump R16 (internal duct), in the passage P4, then take the duct LO and pour into the container E.

It should be noted that the priming and emptying steps can be repeated several times in order to completely empty the second container R (empty container) before filling it again. The container E collects for example all the drained liquid from the container R.

Figures 3a and 3b illustrate a reversal step of a part of the system, namely the part formed of containers R and S and the SEI system. Only the container E was not returned. We thus move from the position of the system of Figure 3a to the position of Figure 3b by performing a symmetry with respect to a horizontal axis. The two containers R and S have their respective bottoms located above their openings / necks, the tank RE has its opening RE1 at the bottom and the ducts L1 and L2 are now below the other components of the system 10. A tilting mechanism can for example be used to perform this reversal.

It should be noted that the position of the piston pump does not matter for this step. The container E may for example be emptied before reversing the rest of the system, or even after.

In Figure 4, the second container having been returned the assay step can take place. During this step an aspiration of at least a fraction of the liquid present in the source container S is created in order to extract it from said container in a controlled manner. To do this, in the present embodiment of the piston P is moved back into the tank (spacing of the opening RE1) in the direction of the upward arrow (fig.4) to remove the rod t of the tank. By moving the piston back into the reservoir, a suction is created on the front face fl of the piston. Under this effect of depression the valve C3 closes and the valve C2 opens. The liquid contained in the source container R (or a fraction of the total liquid volume of the container) is sucked, passes into the passage P2, into the conduit L2, through the valve C2, in the upstream portion of the conduit L1 and through the opening RE1 to enter the reservoir RE in front of the fl side of the piston. Cl valve opens under the effect of the vacuum created, which allows to replace the volume of liquid sucked by the compensation air. At the end of the race the reservoir is for example filled with liquid and the extraction and injection system SEI is ready for the injection step under pressure. The end of stroke is determined by the volume of liquid to be sucked and also the storage capacity of the tank. At the end of the race the tank can therefore be completely or partially filled. During this liquid extraction step the volume of liquid extracted by suction is controlled by the SEI system since the graduations of the tank (or any other equivalent means) indicate the volume aspirated. The stroke of the piston can thus determine the predetermined dose or volume of liquid to be extracted and the dose to be transferred, by injection under pressure, into the second container R (the two doses are not necessarily the same given the extracted volume which occupies a part of the ducts and at least part of the tank, therefore only the part stored in the tank can be used for transfer to the second container).

All or part of the volume to be injected under pressure is stored temporarily in the reservoir RE at the end of the dosing step.

FIG. 5 illustrates the step of filling the second container R with all or part of the liquid of the reservoir that will be injected under pressure into said container R.

To do this, the piston P is pushed from outside the system SEI (down arrow) to slide in the tank and to move towards the opening RE1. The piston thus exerts pressure on the volume of liquid contained in the reservoir (previously aspirated liquid). Under the effect of this pressure the valve C2 closes and the valve C3 opens. The pressurized liquid is thus transferred from the reservoir to the conduit L1, through the valve C3, through the conduit L1, borrows the passage P3, passes through the vent hole (s) O of the pump R16 of the second container R , through it and to the inside of the container as represented by the arrows internal to the latter. The air contained in the upper part of the inverted container R is pushed upwards by the rise of the liquid inside the container and escapes through the dip tube R14 down to the open pump R16, the passage P4 that he borrows, then leads LO to reach the container E open on the outside. The dose of liquid to be transferred during a filling step is controlled by the stroke of the piston in the reservoir (cylinder body). The information on the race to achieve is for example determined by the user of the system.

It should be noted that the dosing and filling steps can be repeated several times in order to reach the desired filling level in the second container R.

This compressed air exerts pressure on the liquid present in this container R (liquid remaining or residual). The liquid subjected to the pressure can then go up in the plunger tube R14, in the open pump R16 (internal duct), in the passage P4, then take the duct LO and pour into the container E.

Figures 6 to 9 illustrate another embodiment of a system and an associated method of implementing the system for refilling (hereinafter referred to as filling) of a container.

In this mode, the system 100 comprises the second container R, the container E and the liquid suction extraction SEI system and the liquid injection system extracted from FIGS. 1 to 4.

The system 100, however, comprises a first container or different source container S 'and a different filling interface qui which connects, the extraction and injection system SEI, on the one hand, to the first source container S' and, d ' secondly, to the second container to fill R. The filling interface I 'comprises a set of ducts L'1 and L'2 similar to the set of ducts L1 and L2 of Figures 1 to 4. However, the duct L I has a general shape of Z coated instead of a U returned in Figure 1. The duct L'2 is always connected to the duct I near the opening RE1.

The SEI system is permanently positioned with the downward opening as in Figures 3b through 5.

The source container S 'is also permanently positioned (in a vertical position) but with the opening SI directed upwards as in FIGS. 1 to 3a.

In this mode, the positions of the system SEI and the source container S 'are the same during the different steps.

The source container S 'is also surmounted by the part S3 (as in FIG. 1) but the passage PI is not equipped with a non-return valve. The PI passage allows free communication between the outside air and the inside of the container. In addition, the container comprises a dip tube S5 whose upper end S5a is fitted in the passage P2 (the passage has been widened at its lower part to allow the insertion of the dip tube) and the opposite lower end S5b is immersed in the liquid contained in the container.

A conduit portion L3a connects the source container S ', in particular the plug piece S3, to a distributor part D. The distributor D comprises a part that is pivotally movable about a horizontal axis of rotation X passing through the portion horizontal driving I (Figures 6 and 8 are to be compared for this purpose). The dispenser more particularly comprises a fixed part DI and a movable part D2.

The fixed part DI comprises a body in which are arranged respective fixed portions L'I a and L'2a (the portion L'2a may include the valve C2 or not) conduits I and L'2.

The mobile part D2 comprises a body attached to the body of the fixed part by one of its vertical faces. The body of the mobile part D2 integrates a fraction (horizontal) of the movable portion L'I b and a portion of duct or channel L3b which here forms a bend.

The distributor D comprises a third fixed part D3 surrounding at least partly the two parts DI and D2.

The conduit portion L3a and the open end of the tank (end with the opening RE1) are both fixedly mounted in this third part D3.

In FIG. 6, the open end of the conduit portion L3a passes through the third portion D3 and opens onto a solid face of the mobile portion D2. The outlet end of the tank passes through the third portion D3 and opens into the vertical fraction of the fixed portion 1a

The third part D3 is pierced in its upper zone with a hole Ta for the passage of the inlet air in the portion L'2b in FIG.

In FIG. 6, the duct or channel portion L3b opens at its two ends on solid faces: respectively an internal face of the third part D3 (in its lower zone) and a vertical face of the fixed part D1.

FIG. 6 illustrates the priming step which makes it possible to fill the tank with outside air, without passing through the source container as in FIG. 1 (opening of the valve C2 and closing of the valve C3).

FIG. 7 illustrates the emptying step which makes it possible to inject under pressure, into the second container R, the air previously sucked from the outside and stored in the tank in order to collect the residual liquid in the container.

All that has been described above in relation to the first mode applies here for priming and emptying and will not be repeated.

As shown by comparison between FIGS. 7 and 8, in general (independently of the embodiment details) the distributor D (or at least a part thereof) pivots with part of the conduits and the container R to return said container and to match the conduits or channels of liquid supply (and / or air if performing the reverse pivoting).

In the rotated position of FIG. 8, the duct portion L3b has been brought into correspondence, on the one hand, with the portion L3a by one end and, on the other hand, with the portion of duct L'2a at one end. opposite.

The duct portion L'2b is, for its part, in a "blind" position and is not used (like the portion L3b in FIGS. 6 and 7).

Whatever the position of the system the mobile and fixed portions 1b and 1a are always aligned and therefore in correspondence. Only the nonreturn valve C3 allows or not the passage of fluid in the duct 1.

Note that the container E containing liquid from the emptying step was removed before turning over part of the system.

In Figures 6 to 8 of the liquid has been shown in the dip tube S5 and in the portion L3a because the system has already been used. However, it is conceivable that in the case of first use there is still no liquid in the dip tube S5 and in the portion L3a.

During this liquid extraction step, the pumping device SEI system sucks and stores in the reservoir RE liquid from the source container S 'as indicated by the arrows (valve C2 open and valve C3 closed under the effect depression). The suction volume control is performed in the same way as explained in the first mode.

FIG. 9 illustrates the step of filling the second container R with the liquid contained in the reservoir RE. The injection of pressurized liquid from a predetermined volume of liquid (controlled dose) into the container R, via the duct L'1 (valve C3 open and valve C2 closed) is performed in a manner identical to that explained in about the first mode.

The container E (or another) has been put back in position to receive the air expelled from the container R (or even collect a little liquid).

The system 100 operates for the priming, draining, dosing, and refilling steps as the first mode 10 system with the details that have been set forth above. The system 100 also provides the same advantages as the system 10. In addition, it is simpler in its pivoting mechanism in that only part of the system is to return. Pivoting can also be done manually regardless of the mode.

Figure 10a illustrates an alternative embodiment of a liquid extraction and injection system SEI 'which functions as the SEI system of the above modes. The SEI system is therefore taken over (tank and piston) but completed for its actuation. The actuation of the piston P is here carried out by means of a motor, for example electric motor M, and a rack 110 in engagement with a pinion gear 112 mounted on the output shaft A of the motor.

The rack 110 is integral at one of its ends with an arm 114 which itself is mounted integrally with the outer end of the rod t of the piston (the outer end of the rod t usually ends with a tray and the arm 114 is mounted around this plate).

The rotation of the motor controlled in one direction or the opposite direction vertically moves the rack and thus the piston rod.

It should be noted that other connecting mechanisms between the motor and the piston can be envisaged (for example a different set of gears can be used).

FIG. 10b illustrates another alternative embodiment of a liquid extraction and injection system SEI ". This variant represents a possible way of performing the liquid extraction step of the source container (assay) and the injection step simultaneously. In general, one mechanism or subsystem assures the metering while the other performs the filling and both mechanisms or subsystems can be operated in a common way (twinning) for the sake of simplification. In a variant not shown, the mechanisms can be operated independently of one another.

In the present example, the SEI liquid extraction and injection system "takes over the SEI system" of FIG. 10a in its lower part (SEI system and motorized actuation means) and duplicates the SEI system (RE tank and piston). P) in its upper part (reservoir RE 'and piston P').

The link arm 114 of FIG. 10a between the rack 110 and the rod t has been modified in order to be fixed together on the two outer ends of the rods t and t 'of the two pistons P and P'.

The reservoir RE is for example in communication with the conduits L1 and L2, while the reservoir RE 'is for example in communication with conduits L4 and L5 which are respectively connected to the conduit L1 or directly to the container R and the conduit L2 or directly to the source container S. Alternatively, a second source container can be used and the conduit L5 is connected thereto.

In the position of FIG. 10b, the upper system extracts liquid by suction from the source container S or S 'and stores it in the upper reservoir RE' (non-return valve C'2 open and non-return valve C'3 closed) ), while the lower system injects under pressure into the container R of the liquid previously extracted and stored in the reservoir RE.

In the next cycle, each system plays an inverse role.

This system makes it possible to increase the filling rate. It is thus possible to use several containers to be filled and several source containers together with a set of valves and / or appropriate valves. As a variant not shown, a source container may be equipped with a pump. This pump must be open and the vent or openings open to extract the liquid by suction. The invention may alternatively be applied to several source containers and / or to several containers to be refilled.

The containers may be flasks, for example flasks that contain a fragrance.

According to a variant not shown, the pump of the second container is removably mounted on the container.

According to a variant of the above modes and variants, the priming, emptying and emptying steps are not necessary and only the dosing and filling steps are envisaged. The system 10 is initially in the position of Figure 3b and the reversal of the system does not take place.

According to a variant not shown, the air used for priming and emptying can be replaced by a gas, for example inert. Alternatively, the priming and emptying can be carried out from a gas, such as air, but which is taken in a manner different from that illustrated in Figure 1. The air taken can in The effect can be stored in the RE tank and then injected by the injection unit of the SEI system. However, air can alternatively be directly injected under pressure in the conduit L1, or directly at the second container, from another air source.

Claims (16)

1. Liquid refilling system of a container, characterized in that it comprises: - at least a first container (S) which contains liquid, - at least a second container (R) to be refilled with the liquid of the first container (S), said at least one second container (R) comprising a bottom (R12) at one end, a plunger tube (R14) which extends towards the bottom and a pump (R16) mounted on the container at an opposite end, the pump being equipped with at least one venting orifice (O) which is adapted to be open or closed in the open or closed position of the pump, said at least one second containing (R) being in the inverted position with the pump located below the bottom, - a system (SEI) for extracting liquid from said at least one container (S) by suction and injection pressure of the liquid extracted in said at least a second container (R) to be refilled through said at least one orifice of is open to the open air of the open pump, the system being external to said at least one first container (S). 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the system (SEI) suction extraction and injection under pressure of liquid comprises at least one external reservoir (RE) to said at least one first container (S) and which is capable of receiving the extracted liquid before its injection under pressure in said at least one second container to be refilled (R). 3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that said at least one external reservoir (RE) is configured to deliver at least a predetermined volume of liquid during injection pressure. 4. System according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the system (SEI) suction extraction and liquid pressure injection comprises at least one of the following: a pumping device, a piston device, a vane pump, a pear type pump. 5. System according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a container (E) which is adapted to be fluidly connected with said at least one second container to be refilled (R) for the recovery of liquid present in the latter. 6. System according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a filling interface (I) connecting the system (SEI) suction extraction and injection under liquid pressure, a part, audit at least a first container (S) and, secondly, to said at least one second container to be refilled (R). 7. System according to claim 6, characterized in that the filling interface (I) comprises a set of ducts (L1, 12) connecting the system (SEI) suction extraction and injection under liquid pressure, on the one hand, said at least one first container (S) and, on the other hand, said at least one second container to be refilled (R), at least some of the conduits being equipped with anti-return members (C2). , C3) to allow a single direction of passage of liquid and / or gas in the conduit or conduits. 8. Process for refilling a container with liquid, characterized in that the process is carried out using a system which comprises: at least one first container containing liquid, at least one a second container (R) to be refilled with the liquid of said at least one first container (S), said at least one second container (R) comprising a bottom (R12) at one end, a dip tube (R14) which extends towards the bottom and a pump (R16) mounted on the container at an opposite end, the pump being provided with at least one vent port (O) which is open when the pump is open, said at least one second container (R) being in the inverted position with the pump located below the bottom, the method comprising the following steps: - extraction by suction of liquid from said at least one first container (S) in order to fill at least one external reservoir (RE) to at least one first container (S ) with liquid extracted, - injection under pressure, from said at least one external reservoir (RE) filled with extracted liquid, of at least a predetermined volume of liquid in said at least one second container to be refilled (R ), the injection under pressure being carried out through said at least one open vent (O) open of the open pump, gas contained in said at least one second container to be refilled (R) being evacuated outside the latter, through the open pump. 9. The method of claim 8, characterized in that the liquid extraction step controls the extracted liquid volume that fills said at least one external reservoir (RE). 10. The method of claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the step of injection under liquid pressure controls said at least a predetermined volume of injected liquid. 11. Method according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the step of injection under liquid pressure is performed by exerting a thrust on the liquid filling said at least one external reservoir (RE). 12. Method according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a prior step of opening said at least one venting orifice (O) by opening the pump (R16) of said at least one second container to be refilled (R). 13. Method according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that, prior to the steps of extraction by suction of liquid and injection pressure of liquid extracted in said at least one second container to be refilled (R ), the method comprises a step of emptying the liquid may be present in said at least one second container to refill (R) before refilling. 14. The method of claim 13, characterized in that the draining step is performed with the pump (RI6) of said at least one second container to be refilled (R) above the bottom and, after the step said at least one second container to be refilled (R) is turned over in order to carry out the steps of extraction by suction of liquid and injection under pressure of liquid extracted in said at least one second container containing fill (R) returned. 15. The method of claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the emptying step is performed, on the one hand, by injecting a pressurized gas into said at least one second container to be refilled (R). through said at least one open vent opening (O) of the open pump (R16) and, on the other hand, recovering, at the output of the open pump, the liquid likely to be present in said at least one second container to be refilled (R) after this liquid has successively passed through the dip tube and the pump open. 16. The method of claim 15, characterized in that, prior to the emptying step, the method comprises a priming step which comprises a step of suction of a gas to fill said at least one external reservoir (RE ) with the sucked gas, the injection of gas under pressure inside said at least one second container to be filled (R) for the emptying step being carried out from said at least one external tank filled with gas in exerting a thrust on the gas to remove it from said at least one tank.