JP2013544597A - Dispenser device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dispenser device (10) for bulk products. The apparatus (10) includes a container (11) for storing a bulk product, at least two guides (33) disposed in the container (11), a support device (12) for rotatably holding the container (11), a container Including a closure device (39) disposed at the first lower end (13) of the, a securing plate (40), and means (17) for rotating the container (11). The dispenser device of the present invention prevents the bulk product from being damaged when in the device and when supplying the bulk product. Furthermore, this device improves the accuracy of the quantity of bulk product supplied from the dispenser device.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a dispenser device for bulk products.

  Some types of food products (eg sweets / cakes, beans, lentils or nuts) as well as other products (eg screws or other small components) are bulked so that the customer can purchase in the desired quantity May be sold at.

  A dispenser device can be used to promote the sale of bulk products. The product is contained in a container, and the product is supplied from the container to a bag or an appropriately sized container by the customer operating a supply device of some type.

  Any device for dispensing these types of products is known. WO 97/08977 discloses a candy dispenser including a candy container and a supply screw that rotates to supply the candy from the container.

  GB 2218410A discloses a food dispenser device including a container having a V-shaped bottom. A helical member that can be rotated by a motor is installed in the lower part of the container.

  U.S. Pat. No. 4,131,257 discloses an apparatus for supplying food from a container. The device includes a rake with a cylindrical container and handle.

  However, existing dispenser devices have several problems. First, because granular products (eg, candy) are damaged during supply, customers will receive damaged products. Second, the amount of product supplied by the various mechanisms for supplying the granular product varies, so that the amount of product supplied from the container is not very accurate.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can reduce the risk that a granular product will be damaged during supply, and that the amount of product supplied is accurate.

  The above objects can be achieved by a bulk product dispenser device according to the present invention. Bulk product dispenser devices are defined in the independent claims.

The bulk product dispenser device as defined in the claims is:
A bulk product dispenser device (10) comprising:
A container (11) containing said bulk product, at least two guides (33), a support device (12), a closure device (39), a fixing plate (40), and means (17) for rotating the container (11); Have
The container (11) has a substantially cylindrical shape with a substantially circular cross section and extends between the first lower end (13) and the second upper end (14). Has a wall,
The guide (33) is fixed in the container (11) and arranged along the inner surface of the container,
The support device (12) rotatably holds the container (11) so that a longitudinal axis (A) of the container (11) is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane,
The closure device (39) is fixedly installed on the support device (12) at the first lower end (13) of the container,
The closure device (39) comprises a tubular part (43) that is substantially concentric with the container (11),
The tubular part (43) has a maximum radius smaller than that of the container (11) and is disposed in the container (11),
The closure device (39) further comprises a supply port (45) provided in the tubular part (43),
The supply port (45) is disposed above a horizontal plane passing through the center of the tubular portion (43),
The radius of the fixing plate (40) is equal to or greater than the radius of the tubular part (43) and smaller than the radius of the container (11),
The fixing plate (40) is disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A) of the container (11) in the closure device (39) at the lower end (13) of the container (11), It is a dispenser device (10) which restrict | limits the quantity of the bulk product supplied from the said container (11) via the said supply port (45).

  First, since the bulk product is supplied to the supply port by tilting a rotatable container rather than a mobile supply mechanism arranged in the container, the container and the supply mechanism The risk of product damage due to relative movement between is eliminated.

  Secondly, the position of the supply port, fixed plate and rotating container combined with the guides arranged in the container makes it possible to supply the bulk product from the container very accurately and precisely. Only a limited amount of product passes through the gap between the outer edge of the stationary plate and the inner surface of the container and reaches the area defined between the outer surface of the tubular part and the inner surface of the container wall This limited amount of product is lifted to the supply port by the guide, from which the product falls out of the supply port of the container by gravity. In this way, an accurate supply is achieved. In other words, only the product lifted up to the position of the supply port is discharged out of the container through the supply port, so that the supply amount of the product can be kept very accurate, and when the rotation of the container is stopped, Supply can also be stopped immediately.

  In one embodiment of the dispenser device, the container has three or more guides arranged at substantially the same distance from each other around the inner surface of the container. The number of guides arranged in the container varies depending on the application example of the container. As the number of guides increases, the interior of the container is divided into smaller sections, and the amount of bulk product entering each section and the amount of bulk product supplied from that section decreases. That is, since the amount of the bulk product supplied from each section is reduced, it becomes easy to supply a small amount of the bulk product more accurately.

  In one embodiment of the dispenser device, the guide extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container. By arranging the guide in combination with the inclined container as described above, it is possible to provide a reliable dispenser device without installing a separate supply device in the container.

  In one embodiment of the dispenser device, the circumferential length of the supply port is equal to or greater than the distance between two adjacent guides. In the apparatus in this embodiment, the bulk product contained between two adjacent guides is reliably supplied from the supply port.

  In one embodiment of the dispenser device, the device has means for rotating the container in stages, the length corresponding to one stage being substantially equal to the distance between two adjacent guides. The device in this embodiment is preferred because the product contained between two adjacent guides is supplied by the stepwise movement of the container each time the dispenser device is operated. Combining this embodiment with guides in a predetermined number of containers allows a predetermined amount of product to be delivered each time the container is rotated by one or more stages.

  In one embodiment of the dispenser device, the supply port has first and second outer peripheral ends in the circumferential direction, and the first outer peripheral end becomes the leading end of the supply port when the container is rotated in a desired direction. The first end and the second end of the supply port are arranged on a horizontal plane so as to pass through the center of the tubular portion in the tubular portion.

  In one embodiment of the dispenser device, the supply port is disposed between the lateral position on the leading side of the tubular part and the upright position of the tubular part. Such a shape of the supply port ensures supply of a reliable product.

  In one embodiment of the dispenser device, the width of the supply port is adapted to the size of the bulk product.

  In one embodiment of the dispenser device, the supply port width is in the range of 1.1 to 2.0 times the average diameter of the bulk product. The width of the supply port is selected according to the desired amount of product to be discharged. However, the range defined here is to ensure that the product can be supplied without having to replace the product at the supply port.

  In one embodiment of the dispenser device, the cross-sectional shape of the guide is substantially triangular and one of its sides is arranged towards the inner surface of the container. The supply of the product from the container can be facilitated by the shape of the cross section of the guide or guides, and the supply of the product from the supply port is assisted by inclining the side of the guide in combination with gravity.

  In one embodiment of the dispenser device, the height of the guide in the radial direction of the container is less than half the radius of the container. The height of the guide provides a reliable supply of bulk product from the container and also provides the desired accuracy for this supply.

  In one embodiment of the dispenser device, the container comprises a tube and an insert movably mounted within the tube. In this embodiment, the bulk product is preferred because it is filled into the insert and stored in the insert. When it is time to refill the dispenser device, the entire insert is loaded into the tube.

  Different embodiments of the invention are described with the following figures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container disposed in a support device.
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the dispenser device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of some parts of the dispenser device.

  In FIG. 1, some parts of a bulk product dispenser device 10 are shown. The device consists of a support device 12 and a container 11 which is rotatably arranged in the support device and filled with a bulk product.

  The support device provides a stable cradle, and the container 11 is installed in the cradle so that the longitudinal axis A of the cylindrical container 11 is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane.

  The inclined container 11 has a circular cross section and a lower end 13 and an upper end 14. A circular ring 15 is arranged around each end of the container 11. The circular ring 15 is a small bearing 16 that is arranged side by side on the support device 12 and promotes the rotation of the container 11. At the lower end 13 of the container, the support device 12 has a bearing 16 that supports the container in both the diametrical and axial directions of the container and holds it in a desired position in the axial direction even when the container is tilted. Can do.

  FIG. 2 schematically shows a dispenser device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The container 11 is disposed in the support device 12, and when the bulk product is supplied, the container is rotated by a motor 17 disposed at the upper end 14 of the container 11. The supply of the bulk product is started by sending a signal to the control device 20 by an operator operating a button or lever (not shown), and from here to the motor 17 through the wire 19. Alternatively, this button is connected directly to the motor. The motor 17 rotates the container 11 continuously or stepwise and sends the bulk product toward a supply port arranged at the lower end 13 of the container 11. Here, the bulk product is collected in a suitable container 18 or bag placed under a feed opening located at the lower end 13 of the container.

  The support device 12 in this embodiment further includes a stand 21 for the container 18. The dispenser device further comprises an additional arrangement, for example a detection device 22 for determining whether a container 18 for collecting the bulk product supplied prior to the supply of the bulk product is placed before supplying the bulk product. May be. The detection device 22 is connected to the control device 20 via the wire 23, and the operation of the motor 17 is not started when the container is not properly placed.

  If another type of bulk product is supplied from the same dispenser device, one or more containers can be placed against the same support device. In FIG. 1, a second bearing 24 for the second container is described. This second container is intended to be located next to the described container 11.

  In FIG. 3, an exploded view of the container 11 in one embodiment of the present invention is shown in detail. In this embodiment, the container 11 is comprised of a tube 31 and an insert 32 that is intended to be fitted within the tube 31. According to this configuration, the insert 32 of the container 11 can be replaced when the dispenser device is used for another type of bulk product. Furthermore, the bulk product can be filled in the insert 32 until it is used and the insert 32 is mounted in the tube, and the bulk product can be transported and stored in the bulk product.

  A plurality of guides 33 extend from the inner surface 34 of the insert 32 toward the center of the insert 32 along the inside of the insert 32 having a tubular shape. The guide 33 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the container 11 and the insert 32 and extends over substantially the entire length of the container 11. However, there is no guide at the upper end 14 of the container to facilitate the work of filling the insert 32 or container with bulk product. The number of guides 33 on the inner surface of the container can vary depending on the application envisaged for the container. In this embodiment, the cross section of the guide 33 is substantially triangular, but the cross section may have other shapes.

  Circular rings 15 are disposed on the outer surface of the tube 31 at both ends of the tube 31. Each ring 15 has a plurality of teeth 35 disposed on its outer surface. These teeth 35 are used to rotate the container 11 together with the teeth on the wheel 25 located on the drive shaft 26 of the motor 17 (shown schematically in FIG. 2). Container rotation can also be achieved by other arrangements.

  Each ring further has a smooth portion 36 adjacent to the tooth 35. The bearing 16 is disposed on the support device 12 by the smooth portion 36. The ring 15 at the lower end further has a surface 37 that is substantially flat and extends transversely to the longitudinal axis A of the container. The surface 37 faces outward with respect to the container 11. With this flat surface 37, the axial bearing 27 is arranged on the support device 12.

  At the end of the tube 31 in the axial direction, a plurality of cuts 28 are made at the end of the tube.

  These notches 28 serve to hold the ring 15 in a desired position around the container 11 in combination with the protrusions 29 on the inner surface of the ring 15.

  The upper end 14 of the container 11 is closed by a lid 38, and contamination of the product in the container due to dust and dirt entering the container 11 is prevented. Both rings 15 provided with a lid 38 and teeth 35 rotate with the container 11.

  At the lower end 13 of the container, a closing device 39 combined with a fixing plate 40 closes the container 11 and holds the bulk product in the container 11. Although the closing device 39 is arranged to be fixed in the support device 12, the fixing plate 40 mounted in the container 11 rotates together with the container 11.

  The closure device 39 includes a member 41 having a ring-like shape that is disposed along the flat surface 37 of the ring 15 at the lower end 13 of the container 11. A tubular portion 43 having a concentric circle with the container 11 extends from the inner end 42 of the ring-shaped member 41 into the container 11. The cross-section of the tube-shaped part described is a circle, but a cross-section with a slightly different shape (eg, slightly oval or tear-shaped) to facilitate the delivery of a particular product You may have. The tubular portion 43 extends to the fixing plate 40 located in the container 11 or to the vicinity thereof. The radius of the tubular portion 43 is smaller than that of the container 11, and the space is defined between the outer surface of the tubular portion 43 and the insert 32 or the inner surface of the container 11 by arranging the tubular portion 43 in the container. Is done. The outer radius of the tubular portion 43 should also match the radial height of the guide 33 so that the guide 33 is as close to the outer surface of the tubular portion 43 as possible without contacting the tubular portion 43. It is preferable that the film is stretched so as to approach. The inner opening end 44 of the tubular portion 43 is closed by the fixing plate 40. The fixed plate 40 includes a flat plate 45 and a lock plate 45, which are assumed to be attached to the guide 33 to hold the fixed plate 40 in a desired position.

  The closure device 39 further includes a supply port 45 for supplying the bulk product. The supply port 45 is disposed above the horizontal plane passing through the center of the tubular portion in the tubular portion. The circumferential length of the supply port 45 is selected according to the intended use of the dispenser device 10 and the specific sizes of various bulk products, as well as the width of the supply port 45. However, the circumferential length of the supply port 45 is at least equal to the distance between the outer ends of two adjacent guides 33 in the container 11, and the width of the supply port is 1.1 to 1.1 mm of the average diameter of the bulk product. It is in the range of 4.0 times, preferably in the range of 1.1 to 2.0 times. Thereby, a desired precision can be achieved with respect to the supply amount of the product.

  The fixing plate 40 has a substantially circular shape, and is fixed laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis A of the container 11. The radius of the fixing plate 40 is the same as or larger than the radius of the tubular portion 43 and smaller than the radius of the container 11. This creates a gap between the outer periphery 46 of the fixed plate 40 and the inner surface of the insert 34 or the container wall surface. When the size of the gap is selected to match the size of one bulk product and the type of bulk product in the dispenser device 10 is changed, the size of the fixed plate 40 is changed. A cut 47 is provided on the outer periphery of the fixed plate 40, and this cut 47 provides a space for the guide 33 in the container. The primary role of the fixation plate is to limit the amount of bulk product that passes through the gap and enters the space provided around the tubular portion 43. The bulk product is discharged from the container 11 through the supply port 45 through the space around the tubular portion 43. In this embodiment, the fixing plate 40 also serves to close the tubular portion 43 at the lower end 13 of the container 11, but this effect can also be achieved by changing the design of the closing device 39.

  In use, the container 11 is filled with bulk product from the opening at the upper end 14 of the container 11. When operating the dispenser device 10, the container 11 is rotated continuously or stepwise to deliver the bulk product toward the lower end 13 of the container 11. The inclined container 11 and the guide 33 in the container facilitate mixing and movement of the bulk product. When the container 11 is rotated, a limited amount of bulk product passes through a gap around the fixed plate 40 and enters a space provided around the tubular portion 43 of the closure device 39, and the lower end 13 of the container 11. The guide 33 extending to the position moves the bulk product in the space around the tubular portion 43 to the height of the supply port 45. From here, the bulk product falls by gravity through the supply port 45 from the container 11 and is collected in a container or bag located under the supply port 45. A guide device for guiding the supplied bulk product to the container 18 or bag may be provided in the dispenser device 10, but such a device is not shown.

  If necessary, a plurality of dispenser devices 10 according to the present invention may be arranged in one common support device 12 so that different types of bulk products can be supplied simultaneously. Preferably, the dispenser device is surrounded by a housing. Installation of the housing can prevent unintended contact with other configurations of the bulk product and the apparatus. When the dispenser device is enclosed by a housing, the closing device 39 can be connected to the housing instead of the support device.

  It is of course possible to combine the different embodiments of the invention described in this application in different ways in optimizing the device to accommodate different types of bulk products or for specific applications. The scope of the invention should be defined by the appended claims, and should not be limited to the disclosed embodiments.

Claims (12)

A bulk product dispenser device (10) comprising:
A container (11) containing said bulk product, at least two guides (33), a support device (12), a closure device (39), a fixing plate (40), and means (17) for rotating the container (11); Have
The container (11) has a substantially cylindrical shape with a substantially circular cross section and extends between the first lower end (13) and the second upper end (14). Has a wall,
The guide (33) is fixed in the container (11) and arranged along the inner surface of the container,
The support device (12) rotatably holds the container (11) so that a longitudinal axis (A) of the container (11) is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane,
The closure device (39) is fixedly installed on the support device (12) at the first lower end (13) of the container,
The closure device (39) comprises a tubular part (43) that is substantially concentric with the container (11),
The tubular part (43) has a maximum radius smaller than that of the container (11) and is disposed in the container (11),
The closure device (39) further comprises a supply port (45) provided in the tubular part (43),
The supply port (45) is disposed above a horizontal plane passing through the center of the tubular portion (43),
The radius of the fixing plate (40) is equal to or greater than the radius of the tubular part (43) and smaller than the radius of the container (11),
The fixing plate (40) is disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A) of the container (11) in the closure device (39) at the lower end (13) of the container (11), A dispenser device (10) for limiting the amount of bulk product supplied from the container (11) via the supply port (45). The dispenser device (10) of claim 1, comprising:
The dispenser device (10), wherein the container (11) comprises three or more guides (33) arranged at substantially the same distance from each other around the inner surface of the container (11). ). Dispenser device (10) according to claim 1 or 2,
The dispenser device (10), wherein the guide (33) extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (A) of the container (11).   Dispenser device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the circumferential length of the supply port (45) is equal to or greater than the distance between two adjacent guides (33). ).   5. The dispenser device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device (10) has means for rotating the container in stages, and the length corresponding to one stage is two. A dispenser device (10) substantially equal to the spacing between two adjacent guides (33).   The dispenser device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the supply port (45) has first and second outer peripheral ends in a circumferential direction, and the container (11) is in a desired direction. The dispenser device (10), wherein the first outer peripheral end serves as a leading end of the supply port (45) when rotated to a position.   The dispenser device (10) according to claim 6, wherein the supply port (45) is disposed between a lateral position on the leading side of the tubular part and an upright position of the tubular part. Device (10).   Dispenser device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the width of the supply port (45) is adapted to the size of the bulk product.   Dispenser device (10) according to claim 8, wherein the width of the supply port (45) is in the range of 1.1 to 2.0 times the average diameter of the bulk product.   The dispenser device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the guide (33) is substantially triangular and one of its sides to the inner surface of the container (11). A dispenser device (10) arranged towards.   Dispenser device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the height of the guide (33) in the radial direction of the container (11) is from the inner surface (34) of the container to the tubular shape. A dispenser device (10) that is substantially equal to or less than the minimum spacing to the site (43).   The dispenser device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the container (11) comprises a tube (31) and an insert (32) movably mounted in the tube (31). Dispenser device (10).