FR3139124A1 - Improved priming product dispensing device and associated filling method. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a product dispensing device, comprising: an orifice communicating with the exterior of the device, a cap, a cap housing; the device being arranged to, at least in the absence of the plug, evacuate the fluid and/or gas through the plug housing from a pocket and/or a fluid reservoir towards the orifice. The plug housing comprises at least one main part, the plug comprises at least one main part, the main part of the plug housing being arranged to accommodate the main part of the plug, so that in a first position of insertion of the plug into the plug housing from the orifice, fluid and/or gas can escape from the plug housing through the orifice along and/or around the plug, and in a second position for inserting the plug into the plug housing from the orifice, for which the plug is deeper or more displaced in the plug housing than in the first insertion position, fluid and/or gas can no longer escape from the housing cap through the hole along and/or around the cap. Figure for abstract: Fig. 5

Description

Improved priming product dispensing device and associated filling method.

The present invention relates to a product dispensing device. It also relates to an associated filling process.

State of the prior art

Product or fluid distributor devices are known.

However, filling these devices according to the state of the art can pose certain priming problems in that it can be difficult to expel as much gas or air as possible when filling it before its first use. .

The aim of the present invention is to solve this problem.

• Un orifice communiquant avec l’extérieur du dispositif,
• Un bouchon,
• Un logement de bouchon,

This objective is achieved with a product dispensing device, comprising:

• An orifice communicating with the outside of the device,
• A plug,
• A cap housing,

the device being arranged to, at least in the absence of the plug, evacuate the fluid and/or gas through the plug housing from a pocket and/or a fluid reservoir towards the orifice

characterized in that:

the cap housing comprises at least one main part,

the cap comprises at least one main part,

• dans une première position d’insertion du bouchon dans le logement de bouchon à partir de l’orifice, du fluide et/ou du gaz peut s’échapper du logement de bouchon par l’orifice le long et/ou autour du bouchon, et
• dans une deuxième position d’insertion du bouchon dans le logement de bouchon à partir de l’orifice, pour laquelle le bouchon est plus enfoncé dans le logement de bouchon que dans la première position d’insertion, du fluide et/ou du gaz ne peut plus s’échapper du logement de bouchon par l’orifice le long et/ou autour du bouchon.

the main part of the cap housing being arranged to accommodate the main part of the cap, so that:

• in a first position of inserting the plug into the plug housing from the orifice, fluid and/or gas can escape from the plug housing through the orifice along and/or around the plug, and
• in a second position of insertion of the plug into the plug housing from the orifice, for which the plug is deeper into the plug housing than in the first insertion position, fluid and/or gas does not can no longer escape from the cap housing through the hole along and/or around the cap.

The main part of the cap housing may comprise a large section and a small section smaller than the large section, the large section being oriented towards the orifice and the small section being oriented towards the bag and/or reservoir.

The main part of the plug may comprise a side cavity arranged for the passage of fluid and/or gas along and/or around the plug in the first insertion position of the plug and for hermetic storage of fluid and/or gas in the second plug insertion position.

The side cavity can be defined between two sealing rings carried by the main part of the cap.

• le logement de bouchon peut comprendre deux parties communicantes suivantes :
  • sa partie principale orientée vers l’orifice
  • une partie amincie orientée vers la poche et/ou réservoir, la partie amincie ayant une section plus petite que la partie principale du logement de bouchon.

According to the invention:

• the cap housing may comprise two following communicating parts:
  • its main part oriented towards the orifice
  • a thinned part oriented towards the pocket and/or reservoir, the thinned part having a section smaller than the main part of the cap housing.

• Le bouchon peut comprendre deux parties jointives suivantes :
  • sa partie principale
  • un doigt, le doigt ayant une section plus petite que la partie principale du bouchon.

and or

• The cap may comprise two following contiguous parts:
  • its main part
  • a finger, the finger having a section smaller than the main part of the cap.

Preferably, the finger of the plug can be arranged to insert into the thinned part of the plug housing, so that, at least in the first insertion position of the plug, the finger expels fluid and/or gas from the thinned part towards the orifice.

• l’orifice peut être une sortie du dispositif
• la partie principale du bouchon peut porter une valve de distribution et/ou la partie principale du logement de bouchon loge une valve de distribution, qui dans un état ouvert, permet un passage de fluide de l’intérieur de la poche et/ou réservoir vers la sortie, et, dans un état fermé, ne permet pas un passage de fluide de l’intérieur de la poche et/ou réservoir vers la sortie.

According to the invention:

• the orifice may be an outlet of the device
• the main part of the cap may carry a dispensing valve and/or the main part of the cap housing accommodates a dispensing valve, which in an open state, allows passage of fluid from the interior of the bag and/or reservoir to the outlet, and, in a closed state, does not allow a passage of fluid from inside the bag and/or reservoir towards the outlet.

The device according to the invention may comprise the bag and a distribution orifice which connects the interior volume of the bag to the interior volume of a channel.

The pocket may be a deformable pocket having an interior volume arranged to contain the fluid.

The cap housing may include clipping or snap-fastening means arranged to hold the cap in its first insertion position.

The device according to the invention may comprise the bag and the reservoir, and may further comprise a supply port which connects the interior volume of the bag to the interior volume of the reservoir, and a supply valve which in an open state , allows passage of fluid from the reservoir to the interior of the pocket, and, in a closed state, does not allow passage of fluid from the reservoir to the interior of the pocket.

The device according to the invention may further comprise a vent directly connecting the interior volume of the tank to the housing without passing through the pocket. The plug may include a vent shutter arranged to close the vent when the plug is in the second plug insertion position. The vent shutter can be arranged so as not to block the vent when the plug is in the first plug insertion position.

• on remplit de fluide la poche et/ou le réservoir, alors que le bouchon est inséré dans sa première position d’insertion dans le logement du bouchon ou n’est pas du tout inséré dans le logement du bouchon, et :
  • on fait remonter du fluide et/ou du gaz de la poche ou réservoir vers l’orifice, de préférence en appuyant sur la poche et/ou le réservoir de manière à en diminuer le volume et/ou par injection de fluide dans le réservoir, et/ou
  • on enfonce ou on déplace le bouchon dans le logement de bouchon de manière à le faire passer de sa première position d’insertion à sa deuxième position d’insertion.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method of filling a device according to the invention is proposed, in which:

• the bag and/or the reservoir are filled with fluid, while the plug is inserted in its first insertion position in the plug housing or is not inserted at all in the plug housing, and:
  • fluid and/or gas is brought up from the bag or reservoir towards the orifice, preferably by pressing on the bag and/or the reservoir so as to reduce its volume and/or by injecting fluid into the reservoir, and or
  • the plug is pushed or moved into the plug housing so as to move it from its first insertion position to its second insertion position.

• on peut faire remonter du fluide et/ou du gaz de la poche ou réservoir vers l’orifice,
• puis on peut détecter un niveau de fluide ou du bouchon dans le logement de bouchon par un capteur, de préférence optique ou ultrason, au dessus d’un seuil prédéfini,
• puis on peut enfoncer ou déplacer le bouchon dans le logement de bouchon de manière à le faire passer de sa première position d’insertion à sa deuxième position d’insertion.

According to the invention:

• fluid and/or gas can be brought up from the bag or reservoir towards the orifice,
• then we can detect a level of fluid or of the plug in the plug housing by a sensor, preferably optical or ultrasound, above a predefined threshold,
• then the plug can be pushed or moved into the plug housing so as to move it from its first insertion position to its second insertion position.

• on peut faire remonter du fluide et/ou du gaz de la poche ou réservoir vers l’orifice, de préférence en appuyant sur la poche et/ou le réservoir de manière à en diminuer le volume et/ou par injection de fluide dans le réservoir, de préférence alors que le bouchon n’est pas du tout inséré dans le logement du bouchon,
• puis on peut détecter un niveau de fluide dans le logement de bouchon par un capteur, de préférence optique ou ultrason, au dessus d’un seuil prédéfini, de préférence alors que le bouchon n’est pas du tout inséré dans le logement du bouchon,
• puis on peut enfoncer ou déplacer le bouchon dans le logement de bouchon de manière à le faire passer de l’extérieur du logement à sa première position d’insertion de sorte que le volume de gaz dans le logement remplacé par le volume du bouchon et/ou de fluide dans le logement s’échappe du logement de bouchon par l’orifice le long et/ou autour du bouchon,
• puis on peut enfoncer ou déplacer le bouchon dans le logement de bouchon de manière à le faire passer de sa première position d’insertion à sa deuxième position d’insertion.

According to the invention:

• fluid and/or gas can be brought up from the bag or reservoir towards the orifice, preferably by pressing on the bag and/or the reservoir so as to reduce its volume and/or by injecting fluid into the reservoir , preferably while the cap is not inserted into the cap housing at all,
• then a fluid level in the cap housing can be detected by a sensor, preferably optical or ultrasonic, above a predefined threshold, preferably while the cap is not inserted at all in the cap housing,
• then the plug can be pushed or moved into the plug housing so as to move it from outside the housing to its first insertion position so that the volume of gas in the housing replaced by the volume of the plug and/or or fluid in the housing escapes from the plug housing through the orifice along and/or around the plug,
• then the plug can be pushed or moved into the plug housing so as to move it from its first insertion position to its second insertion position.

• on peut faire remonter du fluide et/ou du gaz de la poche ou réservoir vers l’orifice, de préférence en appuyant sur la poche et/ou le réservoir de manière à en diminuer le volume et/ou par injection de fluide dans le réservoir, alors que le bouchon est inséré dans sa première position d’insertion dans le logement du bouchon, de sorte que le volume de gaz dans le logement remplacé par le volume du bouchon et/ou de fluide dans le logement s’échappe du logement de bouchon par l’orifice le long et/ou autour du bouchon,
• puis on peut détecter un niveau du bouchon par un capteur, de préférence optique ou ultrason, au dessus d’un seuil prédéfini, alors que le bouchon est inséré dans sa première position d’insertion dans le logement du bouchon
• puis on peut enfoncer ou déplacer le bouchon dans le logement de bouchon de manière à le faire passer de sa première position d’insertion à sa deuxième position d’insertion.

According to the invention:

• fluid and/or gas can be brought up from the bag or reservoir towards the orifice, preferably by pressing on the bag and/or the reservoir so as to reduce its volume and/or by injecting fluid into the reservoir , while the plug is inserted in its first insertion position in the plug housing, so that the volume of gas in the housing replaced by the volume of the plug and/or fluid in the housing escapes from the housing of the plug plug through the hole along and/or around the plug,
• then we can detect a level of the cap by a sensor, preferably optical or ultrasound, above a predefined threshold, while the cap is inserted in its first insertion position in the housing of the cap
• then the plug can be pushed or moved into the plug housing so as to move it from its first insertion position to its second insertion position.

• On pose ou on insert le piston dans les parois à une entrée du réservoir, de manière à maintenir une zone de passage de gaz entre le piston et les parois; puis,
• une évacuation de gaz du réservoir vers l’extérieur du dispositif distributeur de produit par la zone de passage; puis
• Une arrivée du piston plus profondément dans le réservoir que lorsqu’il était positionné en entrée du réservoir.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a manufacturing method is proposed (possibly combinable with a filling method according to the invention) of a product dispensing device comprising a reservoir with a variable volume by movement of a piston at the interior of walls delimiting at least partly with the piston the interior volume of the tank, said filling process comprising the following steps:

• The piston is placed or inserted in the walls at an inlet of the tank, so as to maintain a gas passage zone between the piston and the walls; Then,
• an evacuation of gas from the tank towards the outside of the product distributor device through the passage zone; Then
• An arrival of the piston deeper in the tank than when it was positioned at the inlet of the tank.

The passage zone may comprise at least one exhaust means formed in the walls of the piston side such as at least one hollow or relief formed in the walls of the piston side and/or by microstructures on at least part of the walls in piston contact, and/or,

comprises at least one exhaust means on at least part of the piston in contact with the walls such as at least one hollow or relief formed in the piston on the side of the walls and/or microstructures on at least part of the piston in contact with the walls ,

The passage zone may comprise at least one exhaust means formed in the walls of the piston side only on a limited zone of the walls so that this limitation of the limited zone limits the extent of the air passage zone.

Evacuation can be carried out by suction or depression or by creating a vacuum in a space located outside the product dispensing device using a tool.

The tool may include a seal which is positioned, during suction or depression or vacuum, on the outer periphery of the tank inlet where the piston is flush with or partially protrudes.

The arrival of the piston deeper in the tank than when it was positioned at the inlet of the tank can be obtained by pressing, with part of the tool while maintaining suction or depression or vacuum, on the piston.

When the piston arrives deeper in the tank than when it was positioned at the tank inlet, the piston may have exceeded the gas passage zone and so that the gas can no longer pass between the piston and the walls.

The piston may include a lip arranged to ensure a seal against the gas and/or fluid to be distributed between the piston and the walls outside the zone.

The piston may include another lip, the two lips being oriented towards the inlet of the tank through which the piston was inserted into the tank.

The tank inlet through which the piston was inserted into the tank can be, after insertion of the piston into the tank, hidden by a cover.

The cover can be placed at the inlet of the tank simultaneously with the insertion of the piston into the tank, a part of the piston receiving this cover by passing through a hole formed in the cover preferably so that this part of the piston is tightened in this hole and thus carries the cover.

• Une position d’entrée à une entrée du réservoir, la position d’entrée du piston permettant de maintenir une zone de passage de gaz entre le piston et les parois,
• une position profonde qui est positionnée plus profondément dans le réservoir que lorsque le piston est positionné dans sa position d’entré du réservoir.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a product distributor device is proposed comprising a reservoir and a piston, the reservoir being arranged to have a variable volume by movement of the piston inside walls delimiting at least in part with the piston the interior volume of the tank, said device comprising several positions of the piston inside the walls including:

• An inlet position at an inlet of the tank, the inlet position of the piston making it possible to maintain a gas passage zone between the piston and the walls,
• a deep position which is positioned deeper in the tank than when the piston is positioned in its tank inlet position.

The passage zone can be formed:

By an exhaust element formed in the walls of the piston side and each exhaust element is formed on the walls only on a limited area of the walls so that this limitation of the limited area limits the extent of the passage area of air.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a product dispensing device is proposed comprising:

a pocket connected to a reservoir,

an exit,

a dispensing valve which, in an open state, allows passage of fluid from the interior of the bag or reservoir towards the outlet, and, in a closed state, does not allow passage of fluid from the interior of the bag or tank towards the outlet.

a supply valve which, in an open state, allows passage of fluid from the reservoir into the interior of the bag, and, in a closed state, does not allow passage of fluid from the reservoir into the interior of the bag

The device comprises a valve arranged to press against a tip surrounding the outlet so as to block the outlet, the valve comprises a first part provided with a movable pin by means of a hinge relative to a second part fixed relative to the tip or can only be able to translate relative to the tip. The second part being provided with a housing or a nozzle oriented towards the outlet of the nozzle arranged to respectively fit with a nozzle or a housing of the nozzle.

The device according to the invention may comprise means arranged to, when the piston has reached its deep position ensuring a seal to the product between the piston and the walls, prevent or limit the return of the piston 52 to the non-sealing zone.

Preferably the device is arranged to prevent the piston from returning to the non-sealing zone under a depression of 0.8 bar relative to atmospheric pressure.

Description of the figures and embodiments

Other advantages and particularities of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of implementations and embodiments in no way limiting, and the following appended drawings:

there is a profile sectional view of a first embodiment of a device according to the assembled invention,

there is a profile sectional view of the first embodiment of a device according to the invention being assembled according to a first embodiment of a filling method according to the invention,

there is a profile sectional view of the first embodiment of the device according to the invention being assembled according to the first embodiment of the filling method according to the invention,

there a detailed perspective view of the cap of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention, which is the preferred embodiment of the invention,

there is a profile sectional view of the second embodiment of the device according to the invention being assembled according to a second embodiment of the filling method according to the invention,

there is a profile sectional view of the second embodiment of the device according to the invention being assembled according to the second embodiment of the filling method according to the invention,

there is a profile sectional view of the second embodiment of the device according to the invention being assembled according to the second embodiment of the filling method according to the invention,

there is a profile sectional view of a third embodiment of a device according to the assembled invention,

there is a profile sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a device according to the assembled invention,

there is a profile sectional view of the fourth embodiment of the device according to the invention being assembled according to the first embodiment of the filling method according to the invention,

there is a profile sectional view of the fourth embodiment of the device according to the invention being assembled according to the second embodiment of the filling method according to the invention,

there is a profile sectional view of the first embodiment of the device according to the invention being filled with a cane through the orifice 13,

there is a front view of the first embodiment of the device according to the invention being filled with a cane through orifice 13,

there is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a device according to the invention being filled with a cane through the vent 133,

there is a front view of the fifth embodiment of the device according to the invention being filled with a cane through the vent orifice 133,

there is a front view of the preceding devices according to the invention when the plug is separated from the outlet,

there is a front view of the preceding devices according to the invention when the cap is separated from the outlet and without the pocket,

there is a zoom of Figures 16a and 16b at the level of the cap,

there is a sectional view of the tank profile in a variant of the preceding devices according to the invention,

there is a perspective of a piston devoid of exhaust means according to the invention,

there is a perspective of a piston with a microstructure according to the invention,

there is a perspective of a piston with hollows or reliefs according to the invention,

there is a profile sectional view of the piston positioned at the inlet of the tank according to the invention,

there is a profile sectional view of the tank with an evacuation tool according to the invention,

there is a profile sectional view of the tank with a pressed piston according to the invention,

there is a profile sectional view of the tank with a piston provided with a second lip according to the invention,

there is a cross-sectional view of the tank provided with hollows or reliefs according to the invention,

there is a cross-sectional view of the non-circular tank and the piston according to the invention,

there is a profile sectional view of a device 106 with a recessed valve according to the invention,

there is a profile sectional view of the device 106 with the disengaged valve according to the invention,

there is a flat sectional view of the device 106 according to another according to the invention,

there is a perspective view of piston 52 illustrating a first variant of means 44 of piston 52,

there is a perspective view illustrating a first variant of means 44 of the cover 66,

there is a profile sectional view illustrating the first variant of means 44 of the piston and the cover arranged to, when the piston 52 has reached the sealing zone which is deeper than the zone 65 towards the pocket 2, prevent the return of the piston 52 in the non-sealing zone 65 of the piston 52,

there is a profile sectional view illustrating the first variant of means 44,

there is a cross-sectional view illustrating a second variant of means 44,

there is a profile sectional view illustrating the second variant of means 44 arranged to, when the piston 52 has reached the sealing zone which is deeper than the zone 65 towards the pocket 2, prevent the return of the piston 52 into the zone 65 of non-sealing of the piston 52,

there is a profile sectional view illustrating a part of the device comprising this second variant of means 44, as well as the passage 56,

there is a perspective view illustrating a third variant of means 44,

there is a profile sectional view comprising this third variant of the means 44,

there is a profile sectional view of the third variant illustrating in another plane the legs 45 of the rod 64,

there is a profile sectional view of the third variant of the means 44 arranged to, when the piston 52 has reached the sealing zone which is deeper than the zone 65 towards the pocket 2, prevent the return of the piston 52 into the zone 65 of non-sealing of the piston 52,

These embodiments being in no way limiting, we may in particular consider variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described or illustrated subsequently isolated from the other characteristics described or illustrated (even if this selection is isolated within a sentence including these other characteristics), if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art. This selection includes at least one preferably functional characteristic without structural details, and/or with only part of the structural details if this part only is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the art. anterior.

We will first describe, with reference to Figures 1 to 3, a first embodiment of device 101 according to the invention and its first embodiment of the filling process.

• Un orifice 10 communiquant avec l’extérieur du dispositif 101,
• Un bouchon 23,
• Un logement 13 de bouchon.

The device 101 includes:

• An orifice 10 communicating with the exterior of the device 101,
• A cap 23,
• A cap housing 13.

The device 101 is arranged to, at least in the absence of the plug 23, evacuate the fluid 7 and/or gas through the plug housing 13 from a pocket 2 or a reservoir 6 of fluid 7 towards the orifice 10.

The fluid 7 is a fluid to be dispensed, preferably comprising a liquid and/or a gel and/or a cream and/or an oil and/or an emulsion.

The gas is preferably air.

The cap housing 13 comprises at least one main part 131.

The cap 23 comprises at least one main part 231.

• dans une première position d’insertion (illustrée sur la ) du bouchon 23 dans le logement 13 de bouchon à partir de l’orifice 10, du fluide 7 et/ou du gaz peut s’échapper du logement 13 de bouchon par l’orifice 10 le long et/ou autour du bouchon 23, et
• dans une deuxième position d’insertion (illustrée sur la ) du bouchon 23 dans le logement 13 de bouchon à partir de l’orifice 10, pour laquelle le bouchon 23 est plus enfoncé dans le logement 13 de bouchon que dans la première position d’insertion, du fluide 7 et/ou du gaz ne peut plus s’échapper du logement 13 de bouchon par l’orifice 10 le long et/ou autour du bouchon 23.

The main part 131 of the plug housing 13 is arranged to accommodate the main part 231 of the plug 23, so that:

• in a first insertion position (shown on the ) of the plug 23 in the plug housing 13 from the orifice 10, fluid 7 and/or gas can escape from the plug housing 13 through the orifice 10 along and/or around the plug 23, And
• in a second insertion position (shown on the ) of the plug 23 in the plug housing 13 from the orifice 10, for which the plug 23 is deeper in the plug housing 13 than in the first insertion position, fluid 7 and/or gas does not can no longer escape from the cap housing 13 through the orifice 10 along and/or around the cap 23.

In the present description, all the sections are areas defined in section planes perpendicular to a direction of insertion of the plug 23 into the housing 13.

The main part 131 of the cap housing 13 comprises a large section 141 and a small section 142 smaller than the large section 141, the large section 141 being oriented towards the orifice 10 and the small section 142 being oriented towards the pocket 2 or reservoir 6. Preferably the area of section 141 is at least 3% greater than the area of section 142, preferably sections 141 and 142 are cylindrical and the difference between the average diameter of sections 141 and 142 is at least 0.1mm.

The main part 231 of the plug 23 comprises a side cavity 1 arranged for the passage of fluid 7 and/or gas along and/or around the plug 23 in the first insertion position of the plug 23 and for hermetic storage of fluid 7 and/or gas in the second insertion position of the plug 23.

The volume of the side cavity 1 is preferably greater than 10 microliters, preferably greater than 20 microliters or even greater than 30 microliters. The ratio between the volume of the lateral cavity 1 expressed in microliters and the surface area of the large section 141 expressed in mm2 is preferably greater than 0.4, and even preferably greater than 1.

The side cavity 1 is defined between two sealing rings or gadroons 11, 12 carried by the main part 231 of the plug 23.

These two rings 11, 12 are separated by a distance d of at least 2 or 3 mm and/or at least a third of the average diameter of the plug 23 and/or the opening diameter or the largest dimension of the section (perpendicular to its direction of elongation) of the opening 10.

Among these two rings or gadroons 11 and 12, the ring or gadroon 12 is arranged to be inserted into the housing 13 before the ring or gadroon 11.

• sa partie principale 131 orientée vers l’orifice 10
• une partie amincie 132 orientée vers la poche 2 ou réservoir 6, la partie amincie 132 ayant une section plus petite que la partie principale 131 du logement 13 de bouchon.

The cap housing 13 comprises two following communicating parts:

• its main part 131 oriented towards the orifice 10
• a thinned part 132 oriented towards the pocket 2 or reservoir 6, the thinned part 132 having a section smaller than the main part 131 of the cap housing 13.

• sa partie principale 231
• un doigt 232, le doigt 232 ayant une section plus petite que la partie principale 231 du bouchon 23.

The plug 23 comprises two following contiguous parts:

• its main part 231
• a finger 232, the finger 232 having a section smaller than the main part 231 of the cap 23.

The finger 232 of the plug 23 is arranged to insert into the thinned part 132 of the plug housing 13, so that, at least in the first insertion position of the plug 23, the finger 232 expels fluid 7 and/or gas from the thinned part 132 towards the orifice 10.

The device 101 includes an output 24.

The device 101 comprises a distribution valve 5 which, in an open state, allows a passage of fluid 7 from inside the pocket 2 or reservoir 6 towards the outlet 24, and, in a closed state, does not allow a passage of fluid 7 from inside pocket 2 or reservoir 6 towards outlet 24.

In the particular case of device 101, orifice 10 is provided with outlet 24 of the device when plug 23 is in its second insertion position.

In the particular case of device 101, the main part 231 of the cap 23 carries the dispensing valve 5 and/or the main part 131 of the cap housing 13 houses the dispensing valve 5.

Pocket 2 is a deformable pocket having an interior volume arranged to contain fluid 7.

The reservoir 6 is arranged to contain fluid 7.

The reservoir 6 is also flexible and includes a flexible wall 14. Thus, the reservoir 6 is arranged to deform by reducing its volume as it is emptied of fluid 7.

The wall 14 (which forms a bag) is fixed (preferably welded, for example by thermal or ultrasonic welding) to a tip 89 after filling the tank 6 with product 7, which leaves gas in the tank 6 and/or or pocket 2 just after or during welding.

To save time and/or simplify the manufacturing process or device:

- this fixing or welding can be carried out at the same time as pressing on the pocket 2 and/or the reservoir 6 (by force 18) so as to reduce its volume and bring up fluid 7 and/or gas from the pocket 2 or reservoir 6 towards the orifice 10 described subsequently, and/or

- this fixing or welding can be carried out at the same time, by the same welding means, on two bags of two dispensing devices according to the invention manufactured in parallel.

This end piece 89 is the part which includes housing 13.

This end piece 89 is the part which includes the bottom wall 21.

The cap housing 13 comprises clipping or snap-fastening means arranged to hold the cap 23 in its first insertion position.

The device 101 comprises a distribution orifice 51 which connects the interior volume of the pocket 2 to the interior volume of a channel (this channel being the housing 13 in the particular case of the device 101):

- housing valve 5 (as illustrated on the ) and/or is closed by a removable cover or removable shutter (case not illustrated), and

- ending with outlet 24 (which can therefore be blocked by a removable cover or shutter).

The device 101 includes a supply orifice 41 which connects the interior volume of the pocket 2 to the interior volume of the reservoir 6.

The device 101 comprises a supply valve 4 which, in an open state, allows a passage of fluid 7 from the reservoir 6 towards the interior of the pocket 2, and, in a closed state, does not (or almost not) allow a passage of fluid 7 from the reservoir 6 towards the interior of the pocket 2 (preferably, this supply valve 4 is not perfectly sealed and can allow a slight discharge in its closed state.).

• une paroi 22 déformable ou mobile sur laquelle on peut appuyer pour diminuer le volume intérieur de la poche, et
• une paroi de fond 21 rigide et non déformable.

The deformable pocket 2 includes:

• a deformable or movable wall 22 which can be pressed to reduce the interior volume of the pocket, and
• a bottom wall 21 that is rigid and non-deformable.

• lorsque l’on appui sur la paroi 22 :
  • diminuer le volume intérieur de la poche 2,
  • par surpression, ouvrir la valve de de distribution 5 et/ou faire sortir du fluide 7 de la poche 2 vers la sortie 24,
  • par surpression, fermer la valve d’alimentation 4 si elle est présente
• lorsque l’on arrête d’appuyer sur la paroi 22 :
  • augmenter le volume intérieur de la poche 2 jusqu’à son volume intérieur maximum d’équilibre en absence de force exercée sur la paroi 22,
  • par dépression, ouvrir la valve d’alimentation 4 si elle est présente et/ou faire sortir du fluide 7 du réservoir 6 vers le volume intérieur de la poche 2,
  • par dépression, fermer la valve de de distribution 5

Pocket 2 is designed for:

• when pressing on wall 22:
  • reduce the interior volume of pocket 2,
  • by overpressure, open the distribution valve 5 and/or let fluid 7 come out of pocket 2 towards outlet 24,
  • by overpressure, close the supply valve 4 if it is present
• when we stop pressing on wall 22:
  • increase the interior volume of pocket 2 up to its maximum equilibrium interior volume in the absence of force exerted on wall 22,
  • by vacuum, open the supply valve 4 if it is present and/or release fluid 7 from the reservoir 6 towards the interior volume of the pocket 2,
  • by vacuum, close the distribution valve 5

The outlet 24 of the device 101 is equipped with a spray nozzle 26.

This nozzle 26 is carried inside the cap 23.

Output 24 is located in the vertical axis connecting the pocket to the tank.

In other words, the device 101 is arranged so that the fluid 7 exits vertically from the outlet 24.

In addition, device 101 comprises at least one orifice or hole or vent 133 connecting the interior volume of the tank 6:

- either directly to housing 13 and without going through pocket 2,

- either outside the device 101 without passing through the housing 13 and without passing through the pocket 2.

Figures 1 to 3 describe the particular case of at least one vent 133 (exactly one for the example of these figures) connecting the interior volume of the tank 6 or to the housing 13. In this case, the plug 23 comprises, for each vent 133, a vent shutter 233 arranged to close the vent 133 with which it is associated (i.e. not allow the passage of air through this vent 133) when the plug 23 is in the second insertion position of the plug 23 (preferably, each vent shutter 233 is arranged not to block the vent 133 with which it is associated when the plug 23 is in the first insertion position of the plug 23).

• on remplit de fluide 7 la poche 2 et/ou le réservoir 6, alors que le bouchon 23 est inséré dans sa première position d’insertion dans le logement 13 du bouchon ou n’est pas du tout inséré dans le logement 13 du bouchon (ce remplissage pouvant être réalisé (par une canne ou aiguille de remplissage 77 ou autre) soit à travers un évent 133 reliant le réservoir 6 au logement 13, soit à travers un évent reliant le réservoir 6 à l’extérieur du dispositif 101 sans passer par le logement 13, soit par le logement 13 (plus précisément par la partie 131 et/ou 132 du logement 13) notamment en cas d’absence d’évent 133, soit avant fermeture ou scellage du réservoir 6 et/ou avant assemblage du réservoir 6 à l’embout 89 ou logement 13, puis :
  • on appui sur la poche 2 de manière à en diminuer le volume et/ou on appui sur le réservoir 6 (dans le cas d’un réservoir souple, par exemple sous forme de sachet) de manière à en diminuer le volume et/ou (dans le cas de l’existence d’au moins un évent 133) on injecte le fluide 7 soit à travers un évent 133 reliant le réservoir 6 au logement 13, soit à travers un évent reliant le réservoir 6 à l’extérieur du dispositif 101 sans passer par le logement 13, soit par le logement 13 (plus précisément par la partie 131 et/ou 132 du logement 13) de manière à faire remonter du fluide 7 et/ou du gaz de la poche 2 ou réservoir 6 vers l’orifice 10, par exercice d’une force 18 directe ou indirecte sur la poche 2 ou réservoir 6 ou une force 18 causée par une pression du fluide 7 pour son injection, et/ou
  • on enfonce ou on déplace le bouchon 23 dans le logement 10 de bouchon de manière à le faire passer de sa première position d’insertion à sa deuxième position d’insertion.

Still with reference to Figures 1 to 3, a first embodiment of the filling process of the device 101 comprises the following steps:

• the pocket 2 and/or the reservoir 6 are filled with fluid 7, while the plug 23 is inserted in its first insertion position in the housing 13 of the plug or is not inserted at all in the housing 13 of the plug ( this filling can be carried out (by a filling rod or needle 77 or other) either through a vent 133 connecting the reservoir 6 to the housing 13, or through a vent connecting the reservoir 6 to the outside of the device 101 without passing through housing 13, or by housing 13 (more precisely by part 131 and/or 132 of the housing 13) particularly in the absence of vent 133, either before closing or sealing the tank 6 and/or before assembling the tank 6 to the end piece 89 or housing 13, then:
  • we press on the pocket 2 so as to reduce its volume and/or we press on the reservoir 6 (in the case of a flexible reservoir, for example in the form of a sachet) so as to reduce its volume and/or ( in the case of the existence of at least one vent 133) the fluid 7 is injected either through a vent 133 connecting the reservoir 6 to the housing 13, or through a vent connecting the reservoir 6 to the exterior of the device 101 without going through housing 13, or through housing 13 (more precisely through part 131 and/or 132 of housing 13) so as to cause fluid 7 and/or gas to rise from pocket 2 or reservoir 6 towards orifice 10, by exerting a direct or indirect force 18 on pocket 2 or reservoir 6 or a force 18 caused by a pressure of the fluid 7 for its injection, and/or
  • the plug 23 is pushed or moved into the plug housing 10 so as to move it from its first insertion position to its second insertion position.

• on appui sur la poche 2 de manière à en diminuer le volume et/ou on appui sur le réservoir 6 (par la force 18) de manière à en diminuer le volume et/ou (dans le cas de l’existence d’au moins un évent 133) on injecte le fluide 7 soit à travers un évent 133 reliant le réservoir 6 au logement 13, soit à travers un évent reliant le réservoir 6 à l’extérieur du dispositif 101 sans passer par le logement 13, soit par le logement 3 (plus précisément par la partie 131 et/ou 132 du logement 13)

More exactly :

• we press on the pocket 2 so as to reduce its volume and/or we press on the reservoir 6 (by force 18) so as to reduce its volume and/or (in the case of the existence of at least a vent 133) the fluid 7 is injected either through a vent 133 connecting the reservoir 6 to the housing 13, or through a vent connecting the reservoir 6 to the exterior of the device 101 without passing through the housing 13, or through the housing 3 (more precisely by part 131 and/or 132 of housing 13)

• la remontée de fluide 7 et/ou gaz de l’étape précédente (i.e. l’appui ou l’injection de l’étape précédente) est réalisée jusqu’à détecter un niveau de fluide 7 dans le logement 13 de bouchon par un capteur 9 ou à l’œil (l’intérieur du logement 13 et/ou le bouchon 23 comprenant un marquage d’une ligne de niveau ou d’un repère visuel de niveau) , de préférence optique ou ultrason, au dessus d’un seuil prédéfini, de préférence alors que le bouchon 23 n’est pas du tout inséré dans le logement 13 du bouchon ; comme illustré en , ce seuil est de préférence atteint lorsque le fluide 7 a complètement rempli la partie 132 et commence à remplir la partie 131. En pratique, le capteur 9 est agencé pour détecter ce seuil en visant une surface 15 et en détectant une transformation de cette surface 15 initialement nue et qui devient recouverte du fluide 7 en provenance de la poche 2 ou du réservoir 6 ; le capteur 9 détecte le niveau de fluide 7 par l’orifice 10 ; Dans un autre mode de réalisation, l’appui ou injection de l’étape précédente est réalisé pendant un temps déterminé correspondant à une certaine quantité de fluide 7 et/ou du gaz remontant de la poche 2 ou réservoir 6 vers l’orifice 10 (et on peut ainsi se passer de capteur) ;
• puis on enfonce ou déplace le bouchon 23 dans le logement 13 (par une force 19 d’insertion du bouchon 23) de bouchon de manière à le faire passer de l’extérieur du logement 13 à sa première position d’insertion comme illustré en , de sorte que le volume de gaz dans le logement 13 soit remplacé par le volume du bouchon 23 (plus précisément le volume de la partie du bouchon 23 qui entre dans le logement de bouchon 13) et/ou de fluide 7 dans le logement 13 et s’échappe du logement 13 de bouchon par l’orifice 10 le long et/ou autour du bouchon 23,
• puis, une fois ce seuil atteint et/ou détecté, on arrête d’appuyer sur la poche 2 ou sur le réservoir 6 ou on arrête l’injection de fluide 7, et on enfonce ou déplace le bouchon 23 dans le logement 13 de bouchon (par la force 19) de manière à le faire passer de sa première position d’insertion à sa deuxième position d’insertion comme illustré en .

so as to bring fluid 7 and/or gas from pocket 2 or reservoir 6 towards orifice 10, preferably while the plug 23 is not at all inserted in the housing 13 of the plug,

• the rise of fluid 7 and/or gas from the previous step (ie the support or injection of the previous step) is carried out until a level of fluid 7 is detected in the plug housing 13 by a sensor 9 or by eye (the interior of the housing 13 and/or the plug 23 comprising a marking of a level line or a visual level mark), preferably optical or ultrasound, above a predefined threshold , preferably while the plug 23 is not inserted at all in the housing 13 of the plug; as illustrated in , this threshold is preferably reached when the fluid 7 has completely filled the part 132 and begins to fill the part 131. In practice, the sensor 9 is arranged to detect this threshold by targeting a surface 15 and detecting a transformation of this surface 15 initially bare and which becomes covered with fluid 7 coming from pocket 2 or reservoir 6; the sensor 9 detects the fluid level 7 through the orifice 10; In another embodiment, the support or injection of the previous step is carried out for a determined time corresponding to a certain quantity of fluid 7 and/or gas rising from the pocket 2 or reservoir 6 towards the orifice 10 ( and we can thus do without a sensor);
• then we push or move the plug 23 into the housing 13 (by a force 19 of insertion of the plug 23) of the plug so as to make it pass from the outside of the housing 13 to its first insertion position as illustrated in , so that the volume of gas in the housing 13 is replaced by the volume of the plug 23 (more precisely the volume of the part of the plug 23 which enters the plug housing 13) and/or of fluid 7 in the housing 13 and escapes from the cap housing 13 through the orifice 10 along and/or around the cap 23,
• then, once this threshold is reached and/or detected, we stop pressing on the pocket 2 or on the reservoir 6 or we stop the injection of fluid 7, and we push or move the plug 23 in the plug housing 13 (by force 19) so as to move it from its first insertion position to its second insertion position as illustrated in .

The passage of the plug 23 from its first insertion position to its second insertion position comprises a crossing, by the ring or gadroon 12, of a step or transition 143 separating the large section 141 from the small section 142. When the ring or gadroon 12 arrives at the level of this step or transition 143, the ring or gadroon 12 is preferably in contact with the fluid 7.

Note that for the first insertion position and for the second insertion position of the plug 23, the finger 232 is at least partially inserted in the thinned part 132, which allows;

- guiding the cap, and

- a rise of the fluid 7 towards the outlet 24 and/or the orifice when the plug passes from its first insertion position to its second insertion position.

For the first insertion position of the plug 23, the finger 232 is partially inserted into the thinned part 132.

For the second insertion position of the plug 23, the finger 232 is completely inserted into the thinned part 132.

The sensor 9 is preferably an optical sensor and may include transmitter-receiver optical fibers or even a camera, but can generally use any suitable technical means (LIDAR, ultrasound, etc.).

In a variant not shown, the pocket 2 and/or the reservoir 6 are filled through the orifice 10 from outside the device with filling means so as to cause fluid 7 to rise towards the orifice 10.

We will now describe, with reference to Figures 4 to 7, a second embodiment of device 102 according to the invention and its second embodiment of filling method, only for their differences compared to the first embodiment of device 101 and method of Figures 1 to 3.

The device 102 differs from the device 101 in that it comprises at least one stop 27, 28 on the plug 23 and/or on a wall delimiting the interior volume of the housing 13.

• une butée 27 (de préférence portée une paroi délimitant le volume intérieur du logement 13) agencée pour empêcher le bouchon de passer de sa première position d’insertion à sa deuxième position d’insertion tant que la force 19 (dirigée vers le bas de la ) n’est pas au-delà d’un seuil de force d’insertion,
• une butée 28 (de préférence portée le bouchon 23, comme illustré sur la ) agencée pour empêcher le bouchon 23 de passer de sa première position d’insertion à une position où il est complètement sorti du logement 13 tant que la force 19 (qui cette fois ci serait dirigée vers le haut de la ) n’est pas au-delà d’un seuil de force d’extraction.

Typically, the device 102 comprises:

• a stop 27 (preferably carried on a wall delimiting the interior volume of the housing 13) arranged to prevent the plug from moving from its first insertion position to its second insertion position as long as the force 19 (directed towards the bottom of the ) is not beyond an insertion force threshold,
• a stop 28 (preferably carried by the stopper 23, as illustrated in the ) arranged to prevent the plug 23 from moving from its first insertion position to a position where it is completely out of the housing 13 as long as the force 19 (which this time would be directed towards the top of the ) is not beyond an extraction force threshold.

• on insère le bouchon 23 dans sa première position d’insertion (par la force 19), comme illustré en , le bouchon 23 étant empêché de rentrer complètement dans le logement 13 jusqu’à sa deuxième position d’insertion par la butée 27 car à cette étape la force 19 exercée sur le bouchon 23 est inférieure au seuil de force d’insertion,
• puis on appui sur la poche 2 de manière à en diminuer le volume et/ou on appui sur le réservoir 6 (par la force 18) de manière à en diminuer le volume et/ou (dans le cas de l’existence d’au moins un évent 133) on injecte le fluide 7 soit à travers un évent 133 reliant le réservoir 6 au logement 13, soit à travers un évent reliant le réservoir 6 à l’extérieur du dispositif 101 sans passer par le logement 13, soit par le logement 3 (plus précisément par la partie 131 et/ou 132 du logement 13)

The second embodiment of the filling method according to the invention comprises the following steps:

• the plug 23 is inserted into its first insertion position (by force 19), as illustrated in , the plug 23 being prevented from completely entering the housing 13 until its second insertion position by the stop 27 because at this stage the force 19 exerted on the plug 23 is lower than the insertion force threshold,
• then we press on the pocket 2 so as to reduce its volume and/or we press on the reservoir 6 (by force 18) so as to reduce its volume and/or (in the case of the existence of at least minus a vent 133) the fluid 7 is injected either through a vent 133 connecting the reservoir 6 to the housing 13, or through a vent connecting the reservoir 6 to the exterior of the device 101 without passing through the housing 13, or through the accommodation 3 (more precisely by part 131 and/or 132 of housing 13)

• la remontée de fluide 7 et/ou gaz de l’étape précédente (i.e. l’appui ou l’injection de l’étape précédente) est réalisé jusqu’à détecter un niveau du bouchon par le capteur 9 ou à l’oeil, de préférence optique ou ultrason, au dessus d’un seuil prédéfini h2, alors que le bouchon 23 est inséré dans sa première position d’insertion dans le logement 13 du bouchon ; comme illustré sur la , le fait d’appuyer ou d’injecter fait remonter le fluide 7 dans le logement 13, ce qui fait remonter le bouchon 23 de son niveau h1 jusqu’à son niveau h2 ; le bouchon 23 est empêché de sortir complètement du logement 13 par la butée 28 car la force exercée par le fluide 7 (pression d’Archimède) sur le bouchon 23 est inférieure au seuil de force d’extraction,
• Puis, une fois le seuil h2 atteint et/ou détecté, on arrête d’appuyer sur la poche 2 ou le réservoir 6 ou on arrête l’injection de fluide 7 , et on enfonce ou déplace le bouchon 23 dans le logement 13 de bouchon (par la force 19) de manière à le faire passer de sa première position d’insertion à sa deuxième position d’insertion, comme illustré en .

so as to raise fluid 7 and/or gas from the pocket or reservoir towards the orifice 10, while the plug 23 is inserted in its first insertion position in the housing 13 of the plug, so that the volume gas in the housing 13 is replaced by the volume of the plug 23 (more precisely the volume of the part of the plug 23 which enters the plug housing 13) and/or fluid 7 in the housing 13 and escapes from the housing 13 of plug through the orifice 10 along and/or around the plug 23; the upper end of the plug 23 is detected by the sensor 9 or by eye (the interior of the housing 13 and/or the plug 23 including a marking of a level line or a visual level mark) as being at a level h1 as illustrated in .

• the rise of fluid 7 and/or gas from the previous step (ie the support or injection of the previous step) is carried out until a level of the plug is detected by the sensor 9 or by eye, preferably optical or ultrasound, above a predefined threshold h2, while the plug 23 is inserted in its first insertion position in the housing 13 of the plug; as illustrated on the , the fact of pressing or injecting causes the fluid 7 to rise in the housing 13, which causes the plug 23 to rise from its level h1 to its level h2; the plug 23 is prevented from completely leaving the housing 13 by the stop 28 because the force exerted by the fluid 7 (Archimedes pressure) on the plug 23 is lower than the extraction force threshold,
• Then, once the threshold h2 is reached and/or detected, we stop pressing on the bag 2 or the reservoir 6 or we stop the injection of fluid 7, and we push or move the plug 23 into the plug housing 13 (by force 19) so as to move it from its first insertion position to its second insertion position, as illustrated in .

In this embodiment the sensor is preferably an optical sensor and can comprise a transmitting fiber and a receiver, the end of the plug 23 which carries the outlet 24 being placed between the transmitting fiber and the receiver but can generally use any suitable technical means of measuring distance or level (LIDAR, ultrasound, etc.).

With reference to Figures 12 and 13, the wall 14 (which forms a bag) is fixed (preferably welded, for example by thermal or ultrasonic welding), during this step the tank 6 is not filled with product. Note that each of the embodiments 101 or 102 previously described can, in an implementation of methods according to the invention, comprise (before and/or during the detection of a fluid level or a plug level 23 previously described) filling the reservoir 6 with fluid 7 by the rod 77 through the housing 13:

- directly to tank 6 (without passing through pocket 2) via at least one vent 133 and/or

- preferably towards tank 6 via pocket 2 (vent 133 being optional).

We will now describe, with reference to the , a third embodiment of device 103 according to the invention and filling method, only for their differences compared to the first embodiment of device 101 and method of Figures 1 to 3.

In this embodiment, parts 132 and 232 are absent.

The outlet 24 is located laterally in relation to a vertical axis connecting the pocket 2 to the tank 6.

In other words, the device 103 is arranged so that the fluid 7 exits substantially (within 20 degrees) horizontally from the outlet 24.

The wall 14 is not flexible and does not form a bag but is a rigid wall in which a piston slides which will reduce the interior volume of the reservoir 6 as the fluid 7 leaves the reservoir 6.

The filling process of the device 103 may comprise the same steps as the first embodiment of the filling process described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

However, the sensor 9 detects the fluid level 9 not through the orifice 10, but through the part 89 (also called cap 89 in this embodiment, which forms the internal walls of the housing 13) of the device 103 which is transparent to the radiation used by the sensor 9 so as to make the surface 15 and/or the level 30 of the upper surface of fluid 7 visible by the sensor 9. We thus preferably have, within the same device 103, a part 89 transparent to the radiation used by the sensor 9 and a surface 15 not transparent to the radiation used by the sensor 9.

This principle is also applicable to the naked eye and to a part 89 transparent to radiation of 400 to 700 nm of wavelength visible to the naked eye and a surface 15 not transparent to radiation of 400 to 700 nm of wavelength. wavelength visible to the naked eye.

We will now describe, with reference to Figures 9 to 11, a fourth embodiment of device 104 according to the invention and its filling method. The device 104 will be described only for its differences compared to the first embodiment of device 101 of Figures 1 to 3.

In this embodiment, parts 132 and 232 are absent.

The outlet 24 is located laterally in relation to a vertical axis connecting the pocket 2 to the tank 6.

In other words, the device 104 is arranged so that the fluid 7 exits horizontally from the outlet 24.

In the particular case of device 104, orifice 10 is distinct from outlet 24 of the device.

In the particular case of device 104, the main part 231 of the cap 23 does not carry and does not house the distribution valve 5.

• Comme illustré en , les mêmes étapes que le premier mode de réalisation de procédé de remplissage décrit en référence aux figures 1 à 3 ; on remarque,
• Comme illustré en , les mêmes étapes que le deuxième mode de réalisation de procédé de remplissage décrit en référence aux figures 4 à 7.

The method of filling the device 104 may include;

• As illustrated in , the same steps as the first embodiment of the filling process described with reference to Figures 1 to 3; we notice,
• As illustrated in , the same steps as the second embodiment of the filling process described with reference to Figures 4 to 7.

We will now describe, with reference to Figures 14 and 15, a fifth embodiment of device 105 according to the invention and filling method, only for their differences compared to the first embodiment of device 101 and method of Figures 1 at 3.

In this embodiment 105, the at least one vent 133 comprises several vents 133.

Each vent 133 connects the interior volume of the tank 6 to the exterior of the device 101 without passing through the housing 13 and without passing through the pocket 2.

Each vent 133 is typically formed on a periphery of the walls 14 delimiting the interior volume of the tank 6, and typically corresponds to an unwelded zone of two welded films or walls forming a bag.

On a sectional view passing through the tank 6, the pocket 2, the housing 13 and each (or the) vent 133, each (or the) vent 133 is located on the same side as the housing 13 with respect to the interior volume of the tank 6.

The implementation of the method according to the invention comprises (before and/or during the detection of a fluid level or a plug level 23 previously described) filling the reservoir 6 with fluid 7 by the cane 77 via at least one vent 133 connecting the interior volume of the tank 6 either directly to the housing 13 and without passing through the pocket 2.

We further note that the fifth embodiment of device 105 comprises orifices 42 and 43 on the wall 22, allowing air or gas to pass through these orifices 42, 43 between on the one hand the delimited volume inside the wall 22 and on the other hand the rest of the pocket 2 or the reservoir 6 when filling the reservoir 6 with the fluid 7 by means of the rod 77 or by any other process (for example by immersing the wall 22 in the tank 6 filled with fluid 7).

• Au moins un orifice supérieur 42 positionné le plus haut possible sur la paroi 22 par rapport à la position de la paroi 22 lors du remplissage, de préférence positionné sur la paroi 22 du côté du bouchon 23 et/ou d’un évent 133, et
• Au moins un orifice inférieur 43 de préférence positionné sur la paroi 22 à l’opposé du bouchon 23 et/ou de ce même évent 133.

These orifices 42, 43 include:

• At least one upper orifice 42 positioned as high as possible on the wall 22 relative to the position of the wall 22 during filling, preferably positioned on the wall 22 on the side of the cap 23 and/or a vent 133, and
• At least one lower orifice 43 preferably positioned on the wall 22 opposite the plug 23 and/or this same vent 133.

These orifices 42, 43 make it possible to remove (preferably completely) air or gas from the interior volume of the wall 22 by driving out this air or this gas by a flow (typically of fluid 7) guided from an orifice 43 to another 42, and therefore avoids the formation of air or gas bubbles in this interior volume of the wall 22.

These orifices 42, 43 are also present in the first embodiment of device 101, even if they are not visible in the figures of this mode 101 because these figures do not include a front view.

In all of the embodiments 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 previously described:

i) each vent 133 thus allows air to be evacuated when filling the reservoir with the fluid 7 and thus avoids an accumulation of air in an area located around and/or above the pocket, when oriented the device according to the invention with its housing 13 positioned above the pocket 2, and/or

ii) with reference to the , the plug 23 and its housing 13 can be separated from the outlet 24 and the valve 5; in other words, fluid can pass from the interior volume of the reservoir 6 to the outlet 24 and/or the valve 5 without passing through the plug 23 and/or the housing 13, and/or

iii) with reference to the and 16c, a variant of the device 101, 102, 103, 104 or 105 may not include a pocket 2 and/or a valve 5,

The reservoir 6 is refillable with product 7, the cap 23 being removable from the nozzle 89 by screwing means 239. The cap 23 includes a refill valve or a cover 50 (blocking the channel 237 which passes through the cap 23) fixed with the closure part 49 preventing the product from coming out when it is not connected with the connection means 238 of the cap, and/or

iv)

With reference to Figures 17 to 23b and 27 to 37, a variant of the device 101, 102, 103, 104 or 105 can have its reservoir 6 with a variable volume by movement of a piston 52 inside walls 53 delimiting ( at least partly with the piston 52) the interior volume of the tank 6.

• On pose ou on insert le piston 52 dans sa position d’entrée dans les parois 53 en entrée du réservoir 6, comme illustré en , de manière à maintenir une zone 56 de passage de gaz ou d’air entre le piston 52 et les parois 53 par au moins un creux ou relief 55 formé dans le couvercle 66 et/ou un creux ou relief 54 à l’entrée du réservoir 6 au niveau de l’emboitement du fond 66 et/ou des moyens d’échappement 81 formés dans les parois 53 du côté du piston et/ou des moyens d’échappement 82 formés dans le piston (plus précisément au niveau de la lèvre inférieure 58a) décrits ci-après.
• Ensuite on effectue une évacuation de gaz du réservoir 6 vers l’extérieur du dispositif distributeur de produit par la zone 56, comme illustré en ; cette évacuation 67 peut être effectuée par aspiration ou dépression ou par création d’un vide (de préférence une dépression d’au moins 0,5 bar par rapport à la pression atmosphérique) dans un espace 60 situé à l’extérieur du dispositif distributeur de produit au moyen d’un outil 61. L’outil 61 comprend un joint d’étanchéité 62 qui se positionne, lors de l’aspiration ou dépression ou du vide sur le pourtour extérieur de l’entrée du réservoir 6 d’où affleure ou dépasse partiellement le piston 52.
• On notera toutefois que cette aspiration ou dépression ou ce vide n’est pas toujours nécessaire, cette évacuation peut aussi être effectuée en appuyant sur le piston 52 pour l’enfoncer vers l’intérieur du réservoir 6 de manière à en chasser l’air ou le gaz par la zone de passage 56 (donc sans aspiration 67);

Concerning point iv) above, an embodiment of a method of manufacturing a product dispensing device according to the invention can comprise (possibly in combination with the filling process previously described) thus the following steps:

• The piston 52 is placed or inserted in its entry position in the walls 53 at the inlet of the tank 6, as illustrated in , so as to maintain a gas or air passage zone 56 between the piston 52 and the walls 53 by at least one hollow or relief 55 formed in the cover 66 and/or a hollow or relief 54 at the inlet of the reservoir 6 at the level of the socket of the bottom 66 and/or the exhaust means 81 formed in the walls 53 on the side of the piston and/or the exhaust means 82 formed in the piston (more precisely at the level of the lip lower 58a) described below.
• Then we carry out an evacuation of gas from the tank 6 towards the outside of the product distributor device via zone 56, as illustrated in ; this evacuation 67 can be carried out by suction or depression or by creating a vacuum (preferably a depression of at least 0.5 bar relative to atmospheric pressure) in a space 60 located outside the water distributor device. produced by means of a tool 61. The tool 61 comprises a seal 62 which is positioned, during suction or depression or vacuum, on the outer periphery of the inlet of the tank 6 from which flush or partially exceeds piston 52.
• It will be noted, however, that this suction or depression or this vacuum is not always necessary, this evacuation can also be carried out by pressing on the piston 52 to push it towards the inside of the tank 6 so as to expel the air or the gas through the passage zone 56 (therefore without suction 67);

• un creux ou relief 581 au moins sur une partie des parois 53 du côté du (c’est-à-dire orienté vers le) piston 52 (comme illustré en figures 17 et 23a) en contact du piston,
• des microstructures 571 (comprenant de préférence un dépolissage ou des microsillons) (comme illustré en ) sur au moins une partie des parois 53 en contact du piston,
• une forme non circulaire 591 des parois 53 du côté du piston 52 dans un plan de coupe transversal à l’axe de déplacement du piston 52 le long des parois 53 comme illustré figue 23b où on note une forme ovale,
• et/ou par au moins un moyen d’échappement 82 sur au moins une partie du piston 52 en contact des parois 53 plus précisément au niveau d’une lèvre inférieure 58a (la lèvre orientée vers le fond du dispositif la plus proche de l’entrée du réservoir 6 par laquelle le piston 52 a été inséré dans le réservoir 6) comme :
• un creux ou relief 582 formé dans le piston (52) du côté des parois (53) plus précisément formé dans au moins une lèvre 58a du piston 52 (comme illustré en ) typiquement de taille supérieure à 1mm,
• des microstructures 572 (comprenant de préférence un dépolissage ou des microsillons typiquement de taille inférieure à 150 µm) (comme illustré en ) formé dans au moins dans une lèvre 58a du piston 52,
• une forme non circulaire d’une lèvre 58a du piston 52 (typiquement un écart de circularité de plus de 300µm),

this gas passage zone 56 can be formed for example by at least one exhaust means 81 formed in the walls 53 on the side of the piston 52 as:

• a hollow or relief 581 at least on part of the walls 53 on the side of (that is to say oriented towards the) piston 52 (as illustrated in Figures 17 and 23a) in contact with the piston,
• microstructures 571 (preferably including frosting or microgrooves) (as illustrated in ) on at least part of the walls 53 in contact with the piston,
• a non-circular shape 591 of the walls 53 on the side of the piston 52 in a section plane transverse to the axis of movement of the piston 52 along the walls 53 as illustrated in Fig. 23b where we note an oval shape,
• and/or by at least one exhaust means 82 on at least a part of the piston 52 in contact with the walls 53 more precisely at the level of a lower lip 58a (the lip oriented towards the bottom of the device closest to the inlet of the tank 6 through which the piston 52 was inserted into the tank 6) as:
• a hollow or relief 582 formed in the piston (52) on the side of the walls (53) more precisely formed in at least one lip 58a of the piston 52 (as illustrated in ) typically larger than 1mm,
• microstructures 572 (preferably comprising roughening or microgrooves typically of size less than 150 µm) (as illustrated in ) formed in at least one lip 58a of the piston 52,
• a non-circular shape of a lip 58a of the piston 52 (typically a circularity deviation of more than 300µm),

then an arrival of the piston 52 (in its deep position) deeper in the tank 6 than when it was positioned at the inlet of the tank 6, so that at least one lip of the piston 52 has passed the zone 56, as illustrated in , and that the gas can no longer pass between piston 52 and the walls 53 on at least one lip 58a or 58b, the piston 52 being provided with at least one lip arranged to ensure a seal to the fluid 7 between the piston 52 and the walls 53 outside zone 56. To do this, one can press (for example with a part 63 of the tool 61 while maintaining suction or depression or vacuum) on a rod 64 secured to a bottom 66 of the piston 52.

Note that in the case of exhaust means 82, zone 56 moves with piston 52 and is therefore never passed by the piston. Unlike the recesses and relief 54 at the inlet of the tank 6, the exhaust means 81 and 82 are arranged to ensure, by their size, that gas or air pass between the piston 52 and the walls 53 but not to not let the fluid 7 pass or let very little fluid 7 (liquid, gel, cream, etc.) pass between the piston 52 and the walls 53 at least on a deep zone at the end of depression of the piston 52, so that when the piston 52 sinks sufficiently into the reservoir 6 until it comes into contact with the fluid 7 to be distributed, at least one junction (at least one lip) between piston 52 and the walls 53 becomes tight or almost tight to the fluid 7. Preferably the passage zone 56 comprises at least one exhaust means 81 formed in the walls 53 on the side of the piston and each exhaust element 81 is formed on the walls 53 only on a limited spatial zone 65 of the walls 53 so that this limitation of the limited zone limits the spatial extent of the air passage zone 56. In this case it is preferable that the piston 52 does not include exhaust means 82, at least one lip of the piston 52 in contact with the walls 53 of the tank 6 is smooth and circular (as illustrated in ) and is airtight even to air or gas beyond zone 65 (towards pocket 2). By sealing against gas or air by the piston 52 we mean a minimum seal allowing a leak of less than 0.05 cm3/s of air with a pressure difference between the interior of the tank and the exterior of the device of 0.2 bar at 20°C (port 41 being blocked). The tank being filled with air or gas, the piston is not sealed in zone 65 but is sealed in a zone deeper than zone 65 towards pocket 2, this thanks to the exhaust means 81 limited in the depth of the tank 6. Typically the height 65 of the exhaust means 81 from the inlet of the tank is less than 20mm but this height can be more for example in the case where we want with the same tank height to have different capacities , in this case only one part of the mold forming the tank (the core) is modified.

In reference to the we note that the piston comprises, opposite the wall 58a, a wall 58b provided with bumps 57 arranged to guide the piston by forming a passage zone 56. The air and the product can pass between the bumps during depression of the piston 52. In a variant not shown, the piston 52 comprises a lower lip 58a and an upper lip 58b sealed (that is to say without exhaust means 82), in the depressed position of the piston one lip 58a or two lips 58a and 58b can be airtight beyond zone 65.

In reference to the , in addition to the lower lip 58a, the piston 52 may include another lip 59 which thus improves the seal between the piston 52 and the walls 53. The two lips 58a and 59 are oriented substantially in the same direction, ie both towards the bottom of the product distributor device ie towards both towards the inlet of the tank 6 through which the piston 52 was inserted into the tank 6.

The entrance to the tank 6 through which the piston 52 was inserted into the tank 6 is, after insertion of the piston 52 into the tank 6, hidden by a cover 66 (this cover not being airtight, gas tight or to fluid 7). This cover 66 can be placed at the inlet of the tank 6 simultaneously with the insertion of the piston 52 into the tank 6. For this, the rod 64 can accommodate this cover 66 by passing through a hole (preferably triangular in shape) formed in the cover 66 so that the rod 64 is tightened in this hole and thus carries the cover 66.

With reference to Figures 27 to 37, each variant of the device 101, 102, 103, 104 or 105 can comprise means 44 arranged for, when the piston 52 has reached the sealing zone (i.e. the deep position of the plug 52) which is deeper than zone 65 towards pocket 2, prevent or limit the return of piston 52 into zone 65 (i.e. the entry position of plug 52) of non-sealing of piston 52 under a depression of the device of 0.4 or even 0.8 bar relative to atmospheric pressure, or at least limit the return of the piston 52 into the non-sealing zone 65 preferably to a height representing less than 30% of the height of the zone 65 (the height being measured along the axis of the tank) under a depression of 0.8 bar compared to atmospheric pressure.

Preferably the device is arranged to prevent a return of the piston 52 into the non-sealing zone 65 under a depression of 0.8 bar relative to atmospheric pressure.

These means 44 can take several forms.

• Des pattes 45 portées respectivement soit par le couvercle 66 (première variante en référence aux figures 27 à 30) soit par le piston 52 (troisième variante en référence aux figures 34 à 37), et
• Des parois 46 portées respectivement soit par le piston 52 (première variante en référence aux figures 27 à 30) soit par le couvercle 66 (troisième variante en référence aux figures 34 à 37),

In a first variant with reference to Figures 27 to 30 or a third variant with reference to Figures 34 to 37, these means 44 comprise:

• Legs 45 carried respectively either by the cover 66 (first variant with reference to Figures 27 to 30) or by the piston 52 (third variant with reference to Figures 34 to 37), and
• Walls 46 carried respectively either by the piston 52 (first variant with reference to Figures 27 to 30) or by the cover 66 (third variant with reference to Figures 34 to 37),

so that :

a) preferably, with reference to the or 36, after insertion of the piston 52 through the inlet of the reservoir 6 but before the piston 52 has reached the (called “deep”) sealing zone (to the fluid to be distributed 7) which is deeper than the zone 65 towards the pocket 2, the tabs 45 and the walls 46 are concentric with respect to an axis parallel to the direction of insertion of the piston 52 into the reservoir 6, being in contact and deforming and/or pressing the tabs 45 and /or the walls 46 substantially perpendicular to the axis parallel to the direction of insertion of the piston 52 in the reservoir 6, and

b) with reference to the or 37, after insertion of the piston 52 through the inlet of the reservoir 6 but after the piston 52 has reached the sealing zone (to the fluid to be distributed 7) which is deeper than the zone 65 towards the pocket 2, the tabs 45 and the walls 46 face each other along an axis parallel to the direction of insertion of the piston 52 into the reservoir 6 so that they block so as to prevent a return of the piston 52 into the zone 65 of no sealing (to the fluid to be distributed 7). Note that, in the third variant of Figures 34 to 37, the rod 64 has a surface 640, and that the legs 45 and the walls 46 face each other on this surface 640 forming an angle and comprising a part parallel to the direction d insertion of the piston 52 into the reservoir 6 and a part perpendicular or oblique (but not parallel) to the direction of insertion of the piston 52 into the reservoir 6.

The characteristics of a) are not obligatory, in particular when the cover 66 is positioned after the piston 52 has reached the sealing zone (to the fluid to be distributed 7) which is deeper than the zone 65.

The cover 66 is preferably held (for example by clipping or snap-fastening) to the tank 6.

• La lèvre 58a portée par le piston 52, et
• Des surépaisseurs 47 formées sur les parois 53.

In a second variant, with reference to Figures 31 to 33, the means 44 comprise:

• The lip 58a carried by the piston 52, and
• Extra thicknesses 47 formed on the walls 53.

The extra thicknesses 47 are arranged to:

a) preferably, with reference to Figures 32 and 33, after insertion of the piston 52 through the inlet of the reservoir 6 but before the piston 52 has reached the sealing zone (called "deep") which is deeper that the zone 65 towards the pocket 2, move the lip 58a away from the walls 53 so as to create an air passage 56 between the lip 58a and the walls 53, and

b) with reference to the , after insertion of the piston 52 through the inlet of the reservoir 6 but after the piston 52 has reached the sealing zone (to the fluid to be distributed 7) which is deeper than the zone 65 towards the pocket 2, form a stop to the lip 58a so that the lip 58a and the extra thicknesses 47 face each other along an axis parallel to the direction of insertion of the piston 52 in the reservoir 6 so that they block so as to prevent a return of the piston 52 in the non-sealing zone 65 (to the fluid to be distributed 7).

We will now describe, with reference to Figures 24 to 26, a sixth embodiment of device 106 according to the invention only for their differences compared to the first embodiment of device 101 and method of Figures 1 to 3.

In this embodiment, the device comprises a valve 70 arranged to press against the end piece 89 surrounding and comprising the outlet 24 so as to block the outlet 24 in a gas-tight or non-gas-tight manner. The valve 70 comprises a first part 74 provided with a nipple 72 movable by means of a hinge 73 relative to a second fixed part 73 relative to the end piece 89 or capable of at least only being able to translate relative to the tip 89. The second part 73 is provided with a housing or a nozzle 75 oriented towards the outlet 24 of the nozzle 89 arranged to respectively fit with a nozzle or a housing 76 of the nozzle 89. Preferably , the housing is formed in the end piece 89 and the nozzle is formed on the part 73.

In a fixed version, part 73 is fixed relative to the tip 89, the device is arranged to allow gas coming from pocket 2 to pass to the outside of the device (but not the product) through a non-tight fitting of the nozzle 75 and housing 76.

In a mobile version, part 73 can translate relative to the tip, part 73 has two positions:

-an open position allowing a passage of gas from pocket 2 to the outside of the device at the level of the fit between the nozzle and the housing and, in a closed position does not allow this, making the closed position completely sealed, the closed position being maintained by clips 78.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and numerous adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, for all of the previously described embodiments:

- we note, with reference to the , that all the embodiments can do without the surface 15; in fact, the sensor 9 can be arranged to visualize and/or monitor the level of fluid 7 in the device according to the invention and follow the progression of this level, and/or

- we can have the part 89 transparent to the radiation used by the sensor 9 (or the eye) and a surface 15 not transparent to the radiation used by the sensor 9 (or the eye), and a sensor (or the eye) which visualizes the surface 15 through the part 89, and/or

- we can have the part 89 transparent to the radiation used by the sensor 9 (or the eye), and a sensor (or the eye) which visualizes the level 30 of the fluid 7 through the part 89, and/or

- the large section 142 is not necessarily constant and/or the small section 141 is not necessarily constant. For example, we can have a large section 142 which is a conical frustum narrowing towards the small section 141 and/or a small section 141 which is a conical frustum increasing towards the large section 142. Likewise, the transition 143 does not necessarily include a step, but can be at an angle between the large section 142 and the small section 141 if at least one of these two sections is a conical trunk, or can be perfectly straight without discontinuity if the large section 142 and the small section 141 are both conical trunks with the same value of angle at the top, and/or

- The distribution valve 5 may be absent, in particular, the valve 5 can be replaced by a removable cover or removable shutter, and/or

• Le bouchon 23 peut être vissé dans le logement 13.

- the cap 23 may comprise a cover or a refill valve 50 (in particular if the device according to the invention forms a refill) or a cover perforator, and/or

• The cap 23 can be screwed into the housing 13.

When the sensor is arranged to see the surface 15 or 30 through the orifice 10 or the outlet 24, the radiation used by the sensor 9 has any frequency which can be in the infrared, visible, ultraviolet, ultrasound , X-rays, etc.

When the sensor is arranged to see the surface 15 or 30 through the part 89, the radiation used by the sensor 9 typically has a frequency greater than 16,000 Hertz; preferably, the radiation used by the sensor 9 is typically ultrasound (typically having a frequency between 16,000 Hertz and 10,000,000 Hertz) or X-rays (typically having a frequency between 10 ¹⁶ Hz and 10 ²⁰ Hz ).

Of course, the different characteristics, shapes, variants and embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other in various combinations as long as they are not incompatible or exclusive of each other. In particular, all the variants and embodiments described above can be combined with each other.

Claims (12)

Product dispensing device, comprising:

• An orifice (10) communicating with the outside of the device,
• A cap (23),
• A cap housing (13),

the device being arranged to, at least in the absence of the plug, evacuate the fluid and/or gas through the plug housing from a pocket (2) and/or a reservoir (6) of fluid towards the orifice
characterized in that:
the cap housing (13) comprises at least one main part (131),
the cap comprises at least one main part (231),
the main part of the cap housing being arranged to accommodate the main part of the cap, so that:

• in a first position of insertion of the plug (23) into the plug housing (13) from the orifice (10), fluid and/or gas can escape from the plug housing (13) through the 'orifice along and/or around the cap, and
• in a second position of insertion of the plug (23) into the plug housing (13) from the orifice (10), for which the plug is more depressed or moved in the plug housing (13) than in the first insertion position, fluid and/or gas can no longer escape from the plug housing (13) through the orifice along and/or around the plug (23)

the device comprising the bag (2) and a distribution orifice (51) connecting the interior volume of the bag to the interior volume of a channel
the pocket (2) being a deformable pocket having an interior volume arranged to contain the fluid.
. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the main part of the plug housing (131) comprises a large section (141) and a small section (142) smaller than the large section (141), the large section (141) being oriented towards the orifice (10) and the small section (142) being oriented towards the pocket (2) and/or the reservoir (6). Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the main part (231) of the plug (23) comprises a lateral cavity (1) arranged for the passage of fluid and/or gas along and/or around the plug ( 23) in the first plug insertion position and for hermetic storage of fluid and/or gas in the second plug insertion position. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the lateral cavity (1) is defined between two sealing rings (11, 12) carried by the main part (231) of the plug (23). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that:

• the cap housing comprises two following communicating parts:
  • its main part (131) oriented towards the orifice (10)
  • a thinned part (132) oriented towards the bag (2) and/or reservoir (6), the thinned part having a section smaller than the main part of the cap housing (13).
• The cap comprises two following contiguous parts:
  • its main part (231)
  • a finger (232), the finger having a section smaller than the main part of the cap

the finger (232) of the plug (23) being arranged to insert into the thinned part (132) of the plug housing, so that, at least in the first insertion position of the plug (23), the finger ( 232) flushes fluid and/or gas from the thinned part towards the orifice (10). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that:

• the orifice (10) is an outlet (24) of the device
• the main part (232) of the cap carries a dispensing valve (5) and/or the main part of the cap housing accommodates a dispensing valve (5), which in an open state allows passage of fluid from the interior from the pocket and/or reservoir towards the outlet, and, in a closed state, does not allow a passage of fluid from inside the pocket (2) and/or reservoir (6) towards the outlet (24).

Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cap housing (13) comprises clipping or latching means arranged to maintain the cap (23) in its first insertion position. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the pocket and the reservoir, and that it further comprises a supply orifice (41) which connects the interior volume of the pocket (2 ) to the interior volume of the reservoir (6), and a supply valve (4) which, in an open state, allows fluid to pass from the reservoir to the inside of the pocket, and, in a closed state, does not allow a passage of fluid from the reservoir to the inside of the pocket (2). Method of filling a device according to claim 1, in which:

• the pocket (2) and/or the reservoir (6) is filled with fluid while the plug is inserted in its first insertion position in the plug housing (13) or is not inserted at all in the plug housing cap, and:
  • fluid and/or gas is brought up from the bag or reservoir towards the orifice, preferably by pressing on the bag and/or the reservoir so as to reduce its volume, and/or,
  • the plug is pushed or moved into the plug housing (13) so as to move it from its first insertion position to its second insertion position, and/or

Method according to claim 9, characterized in that:

• fluid and/or gas is brought up from the bag or reservoir towards the orifice (10),
• then a level of fluid or of the plug (23) is detected in the plug housing (13) by a sensor (9), preferably optical or ultrasonic, above a predefined threshold,
• then the plug (23) is pushed or moved into the plug housing (13) so as to move it from its first insertion position to its second insertion position.

Method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that:

• fluid and/or gas is brought up from the bag or reservoir towards the orifice, preferably by pressing on the bag and/or the reservoir so as to reduce its volume, preferably while the cap is not at all inserted into the cap housing,
• then a fluid level in the plug housing is detected by a sensor (9), preferably optical or ultrasonic, above a predefined threshold, preferably while the plug (23) is not inserted at all in the housing of the plug (13),
• then the plug (23) is pushed or moved into the plug housing so as to move it from outside the housing to its first insertion position so that the volume of gas in the housing (13) is replaced by the volume of the plug and/or fluid in the housing and escapes from the plug housing through the orifice along and/or around the plug (23),
• then the plug is pushed or moved into the plug housing (13) so as to move it from its first insertion position to its second insertion position.

Method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that:

• fluid and/or gas is brought up from the pocket (2) or reservoir (6) towards the orifice (10), preferably by pressing on the pocket and/or the reservoir so as to reduce its volume and make , while the plug is inserted in its first insertion position in the plug housing, so that the volume of gas in the housing (13) is replaced by the volume of the plug (23) and/or fluid in the housing and escapes from the cap housing through the orifice along and/or around the cap,
• then a level of the cap is detected by a sensor (9), preferably optical or ultrasound, above a predefined threshold, while the cap is inserted in its first insertion position in the housing of the cap
• then the plug is pushed or moved into the plug housing 13) so as to move it from its first insertion position to its second insertion position.