TW201249381A - Dosing unit for a powder dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a dosing unit for a powder dispenser comprising two dosing chambers (2, 3) each chamber comprising: one upstream inlet (21, 31) and one downstream outlet (22, 32), an upstream means (23, 33) for opening and closing the inlet, a downstream means (24, 34) for opening and closing the outlet, the upstream means (23, 33) closing the inlet (21, 31) when the downstream means (24, 34) opens the outlet (22, 32) and reciprocally, wherein the upstream means (23) of the first chamber closes the first chamber (2) when the upstream means (33) of the second chamber opens the second chamber (3) and reciprocally.

Description

201249381 VI. Description of the Invention: [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing a predetermined amount of powder, preferably a powder of a beverage or food ingredient. [Prior Art] A powder dispenser generally includes a powder tank which is closed at its bottom by a metering device for metering a metered powder and injecting it into a hopper. For the simplest dispensers that are manually actuated, the metering device Ο is typically formed on a horizontal plate that blocks the bottom of the slot and is rotated to become vertical to allow powder to flow from the slot. This rotation is made along a 9 〇. The angle is manually rotated by the actuator. Depending on the nature of the powder stored in the tank, specific instructions are set to obtain the correct metered powder to prepare a beverage or food product from the powder composition. These instructions correspond to the partial number of revolutions that must be applied to the actuator. Rotating a metering of the powder corresponding to a particular predetermined volume and, in a sense, by manually rotating one of the actuators to manually actuate the spring to substantially push the actuator back to avoid squatting of the slot Too long to open 'and-inaccurate metering. The dispenser typically includes a plurality of tanks for delivering different powders, such as for producing different beverages such as coffee, chocolate, soup, .... All of the slots are coupled to the same type of metering device so that the operator can refill the tank with any food ingredient powder that always delivers the same volume of powder each time it is actuated. Depending on the beverage to be prepared, the customer may need an important volume of powder or a smaller volume of powder. In fact, a beverage (such as a chocolate or a cappuccino) may require 15g to 30g of powder, while a coffee may only require 2 156725.doc -4. 201249381 g. Next, for some beverages that require - the powder metering device must be actuated = powder, the customer is 7 to 10 times. Considering this _larger number = getting the correct metering, for example forgetting the number of rotations he still needs to make, and between:::, the customer may get the correct final metered powder. In the case of clothing & goods or beverages, in addition, if the same operator can be exhausted for each operation, the 4 yard adapter is activated.

The G actuator, and then - the aspect actually alternates the rotation of the ergonomics. The aspect is rotated a number of times. This action does not conform to the person [invention content] This July - the purpose is to solve these problems, and the extractor, which can be sheep gold l 4t» A Yang end% with the author tired. ...and a larger metered amount of powder can be dispensed without being manipulated manually in an inventive manner without the object of the invention being directed to a powder dispenser. It may be a further object of the invention to provide a powder dispenser with a metering towel that is manually operated without error. According to a first aspect, the invention relates to one of the powder dispensers, which comprises two metering chambers, each chamber comprising: an upstream inlet and a downstream outlet, an upstream member, Opening and closing the inlet, a downstream member for opening and closing the outlet, the upstream member closing the inlet when the downstream member opens the outlet, and vice versa, 156725.doc 201249381 wherein the second chamber The upstream member of the first chamber closes the first chamber inlet when the upstream member of the chamber opens the second chamber inlet, and vice versa. The metering unit of the invention comprises two metering chambers. Each of the two chambers typically exhibits the same internal volume. This volume corresponds to the smallest volume that can be delivered by the metering unit. Each chamber includes an inlet for introducing a powder to be metered, and an outlet for evacuating the metered powder, the powder flowing into and out of the chamber by gravity. In the present invention, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" and equivalent terms are used to describe the relative positioning of the features of the present invention. It is to be understood as referring to the metering unit in the normal orientation of the powder dispenser as shown, for example, in Figure 2, the powder falls into and out of the chamber by gravity. Each chamber includes means for alternately opening and closing the upstream inlet, and means for simultaneously alternately closing and opening the downstream outlet. The metering unit is configured such that for each chamber, the upstream member closes the inlet when the downstream member opens the outlet, and vice versa. Due to this configuration, each chamber can be opened at its upstream inlet and closed at its downstream outlet (the downstream outlet corresponds to a position in the chamber for feeding and metering the powder), or at its upstream inlet closed, and at Its downstream outlet is open (the downstream inlet corresponds to one of the locations from which the powder is discharged). Additionally, the metering unit is configured such that when the upstream member of the second chamber opens the second chamber, the upstream member of the first chamber closes the first chamber and vice versa. Due to this configuration, when the second chamber is in the position to discharge the powder, the first chamber is in the position to feed and meter the powder 156725.doc 201249381, and vice versa. The means for opening and closing the inlets and outlets of the chambers may be vanes - preferably rotating vanes - which may assume the same shape as the cross section of the % chamber at their inlets and outlets . According to a preferred embodiment, the two chambers can be joined side by side. The two counting chambers can assume a half cylinder shape. They can be connected in a tube in a connected manner.

According to another preferred embodiment, the upstream blades can be driven by the same shaft. In this embodiment, the upstream blades may be based on a 9 inch. The angular difference is fixed to its common axis. Accordingly, the upstream blades of the chamber may be oriented horizontally while the upstream blades of the other chamber are oriented vertically. Roots, and in other preferred embodiments, the downstream blades can be driven by the same shaft. In this embodiment, the downstream vanes may be based on a 9 ◦. The angular difference is fixed to the common axis of eight. Accordingly, the downstream blades of the chamber can be oriented horizontally while the downstream blades of the other chamber are oriented vertically. According to these preferred embodiments, the upstream blades and the downstream blades 2 may be connected by a notched gear. The notched gears are embedded in each other when the downstream member of the first chamber opens the first chamber outlet chamber to the upstream member to close the first chamber inlet = swim = ground 'the first - the upstream vane of the chamber can be oriented horizontally, straight, while the upstream vane of the other chamber can be oriented vertically and the downstream vanes are oriented horizontally. The monthly Sr I: measuring unit includes a manual actuator ', for example, on the axes. The manual actuator can be a handle. I56725.doc 201249381 According to these preferred embodiments, the metering unit can include means for counting the meters delivered by the chambers. The members may include a ball held between a spring and a disc surface of one of the notched gears, and the notched gear may present at least one aperture, preferably regular The ground angle is four holes spaced apart on the surface of the disc and is capable of facing the ball during rotation of the notched gear. According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a powder dispenser comprising a metering unit as defined above and an assembly connected to a powder tank of one of the chamber inlets. The dispenser can include a number of assemblies, such as defined above, wherein the tanks store different food or beverage powder ingredients. These beverage ingredients can be selected from the list of soup powder, mashed potato powder, chocolate powder, coffee powder, cappuccino powder, .... According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a method for dispensing a metered powder. The method comprises the steps of: - providing a powder dispenser, such as defined above, _rotating the isometric until the delivery The powder to be measured. [Embodiment] The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the drawings. Figures la and lb illustrate the manner in which a metered powder is dispensed using one of the presently preferred dispensers. The dispenser includes a tank for storing the powder, and . Ten i unit 41. The metering unit is a tube 42 in which a plate 43 (indicated by dotted lines) is placed to close or open the section of the tube. This plate 43 is fixed to the shaft 44 and is coupled to a manual actuator 45. When the sixty-seven singles 70 are not in use, the actuator is in a resting position according to Figure la, and the plate 156725.doc 201249381 must be delivered a metered hour hand rotation such that the placement stop members 46, 43 are horizontally U . Then there is no (four) amount of powder. When powdered, the actuator is based on -90. The angle is placed vertically along the plate' and the powder can flow through the tube 42. The actuator can be moved no more than 90. . This dispenser presents several disadvantages:

- For the allocation of a large number of umbrellas, ancient / Yuda + A

〇 = turning the actuator ", and then turning counterclockwise - compared with = can lead to mistakes, this is tiring, depending on the strength of the author, continue to move the test seven "do &< knife The actuation or the stop member can be worn and even destroyed over time, depending on the speed at which the operator rotates the actuator, which is not accurate. Figure 2 illustrates a metering according to one aspect of the invention in which the walls of the two chambers 2, 3 have been made transparent. The chambers are defined by a vertical plate 5 forming two of the two chambers 2, 3 divided into a tube 4. Preferably, the two chambers exhibit the same volume. The first chamber 2 of the δ hai presents an upstream inlet 21 and a downstream outlet 22. The upstream inlet 21 can be opened and closed by closing and opening the member 23, such as a blade 23, which presents the shape of the cross section of the first chamber at the entrance of the first chamber and is fixed to a first shaft 6 on. Rotation of the shaft 6 causes the blade 23 to rotate 'to close and open the inlet 21 of the chamber depending on the respective horizontal or vertical orientation of the blade 23. The second chamber 3 presents an upstream inlet 31 and a downstream outlet 32. The upstream inlet 31 can be opened and closed by closing and opening the member 33. For example, a 156725.doc -9-201249381 blade 33 presents the cross-sectional shape of the chamber at the entrance of the second chamber, and is fixed to the same On the shaft 6. Rotation of the shaft 6 causes the blade 33 to rotate to close and open the inlet 31 of the chamber depending on the horizontal or vertical orientation of the blade 33, respectively. The upstream closing and opening members 23, 33 of the chambers 2, 3 are configured such that when the upstream closing and opening member 33 of the second chamber opens the second chamber 3, the first chamber The upstream closing and opening member 23 closes the first chamber 2' and vice versa. In the presently illustrated embodiment, the blades 23, 33 are in accordance with a 90. The angle difference is fixed to the common shaft 6 such as it. The downstream outlet 22 of the first chamber can be opened and closed by closing and opening the member 24 in the same manner, for example, a blade having a cross-sectional shape of the chamber at the outlet of the first chamber, which is fixed to a first Two axes on the 7th. Rotation of the second shaft 7 causes the blade 24 to rotate to close and open the outlet 22 of the chamber depending on the respective horizontal or vertical orientation of the blade 24. The downstream outlet 32 of the second chamber can be opened and closed by closing and opening the member 34, for example, a blade having a cross-sectional shape of the chamber at the outlet of the second chamber, and being fixed to the second On the shaft 7. Rotation of the second shaft 7 causes the vanes 34 to rotate to close and open the outlet 32 of the chamber depending on the respective horizontal or vertical orientation of the vanes 34. The downstream closing and opening members 24, 34 of the chambers 2, 3 are configured such that when the downstream closing and opening member 34 of the second chamber opens the second chamber 3, the first chamber The downstream closing and opening member 24 closes the first chamber 2 and vice versa. In the presently illustrated embodiment, the 156725.doc 201249381 blades 24, 34 are secured to their common axis 7 in accordance with a 90° angular difference.

两个 The two shafts 6, 7 supporting the opening and closing members 23, 33, 24, 34 of the upstream inlets 21, 31 and the downstream outlets 22, 32 are configured such that for each chamber 'when the downstream member 24, When the outlets 22, 32 are opened, the upstream vanes 23, 33 close the inlets 21, 31 ' and vice versa. In the present embodiment, each shaft 6, 7 presents at its end - a notched gear 8, 9 and the two gears are connected to each other such that for each chamber, the downstream vanes 24, 34 open the outlet 22' 32 o'' the upstream blades 23, 33 close the inlets 21, 3 1, and vice versa. An actuator 10 is fixed to one end of the first shaft 6 to rotate the shaft 6, and indirectly rotates the second shaft 7 and the four blades 23, 33, 24, 34. Any type of manual actuator can be used as one of the members having a gripping member. In the position depicted in Figure 2, the upstream vane of the first chamber is oriented horizontally and the downstream vane 24 of the first chamber is oriented vertically, which means that the chamber 2 is being dispensed in the first The metered powder in one chamber is metered; at the same time the upstream vane 33 of the second chamber is oriented vertically and the downstream vane 34 of the second chamber is oriented horizontally. This means that the chamber 3 is metered - powder metered. When the actuator rotates in accordance with a clockwise rotation, the upstream blade 垂直 vertically moves in the first chamber 2, and opens the chamber inlet 2, and the downstream blade 24 moves horizontally, and closes the Chamber outlet 22. The upstream blade 33 is horizontally moved in the second chamber 3, and the chamber inlet 31' is closed while the downstream blade 34 is vertically moved, and the moon is opened to the outlet 32. Thus, the continuous rotation of the isometric shafts 6, 7 is built in a chamber 156725.doc • 11 · 201249381 standing continuous & ten quantity one meter, the n, the last heavy end, and from the other chamber to the discharge A metered powder may also include means for metering the delivery from the chambers. In the metering unit shown in Fig. 3, the counting member or the 9G of the actuator. The rotation count. Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the counted material of Figure 2. The counting member includes a ball 1 固 which is held on the surface of the disk of the notched gear 8 attached to the first shaft 6 and has a concave gear 8 present on the surface of the disk There are four holes 规则3 which are regularly angularly spaced apart, and the 钤 platinum facade... Μ There is a gear rotation period of the ball 1〇. - The hollow cylinder is said to be transparent in Figure 3) holding the spring and the ball before the disc surface of the notched gear 8. When the notched gear 8 rotates 'and one of its holes 13 faces the cylinder ": the spring 12 partially pushes the ball H) into the hole 13. The hole 13 is small enough to make the ball The only part of the 出现 出现 出现 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分 部分The movement of the ball can be felt when the ball faces a hole U of the notch, that is, each time the rotation of the middle jaw is performed, that is, each time from the chambers 2, 3 One meter is delivered. Thus, the operator can easily count the delivered meter while continuously rotating the actuator to the same extent. One of the advantages of the metering unit of the present invention is that it achieves an important amount of powder (four) and Delivery 'does not need to rotate the actuator a higher number of turns. One of the actuations is fully rotated enough to deliver four substantially metered powders. The metering unit of the present invention is $ X , 5 Λ ^ ΐ The advantage is that the actuator is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise depending on the operator's 156725.doc -12· 201249381 preference. This continuous degree of rotation associated with the counting member assists the operator in delivering a suitably metered product which, in the prior art, results in a more or less metering error. Contrary to the prior art dispenser The actuator can be continuously rotated according to some extent without causing the stop member to wear or break. [Simplified Schematic] FIG. 1a and FIG. 10 show the optimal view of the first unit of the unit. Figure 3 is an enlarged view of one of the counting members of the metering unit of Figure 2. [Main component symbol description] 1 2 3 〇4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 The first cavity of the metering unit Chamber second chamber tube vertical plate first shaft second shaft notched gear notched gear ball cylinder spring 156725.doc 201249381 13 hole 21 upstream inlet 22 downstream outlet 23 upstream member 24 downstream member 31 upstream inlet 32 Downstream outlet 33 upstream member 34 downstream member 40 slot 41 metering unit 42 tube 43 plate 44 shaft 45 manual actuator 46 stop member 156725.doc • 14-

Claims (1)

201249381 VII. Patent application scope: 1. A metering unit for a powder dispenser comprising two metering chambers (2, 3) 'each chamber comprises: an upstream inlet (21, 31) and a a downstream outlet (22, 32), an upstream member (23, 33) 'for opening and closing the inlet, a downstream member (24, 34) 'for opening and closing the outlet, Ο 虽 although the downstream member (24, 34) when the outlet (22, 32) is opened, the upstream member (23, 33) closes the inlet (21, 31), and vice versa, wherein the upstream member of the second chamber (33) When the second chamber inlet (31) is opened, the upstream member (23) of the first chamber closes the first chamber inlet (21) and vice versa. «The three-dimensional unit of claim 1" wherein the members (23, 33, 24, 34) for opening and closing the inlets and the π are the blades. 3. The metering unit of claim 1 or 2, wherein the metering chambers (2, 3) are joined side by side. 4. The metering unit of request 3 is coaxial (6) driven. 5. The metering unit of request 4 is coaxial (7) driven. 6. If the meter of claim 5 is 亓 Τ 疋 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中|DD 9) and connect. 7 1 4 #里早元, where (10) an actuator. μ°十里早元 includes a manual 8. As claimed in claim 1 or 2, the shai metering unit is included for the pair of upstream blades (23, 33) from which the downstream blades (24, 34) The metered components 13) delivered by the chambers by phase 156725.doc 201249381. , U, 12, 9.10. 11.12. The metering unit of claim 1 or 2 is half-cylindrical. The metering units of claim 1 or 2 are connected side by side in one tube. Wherein the two meters 3) wherein the two chambers (2, 3) are a powder dispenser comprising a metering unit as claimed in items 丨 to (7) and connected to the chamber inlets (21, either At least one assembly of the item.) - a method for dispensing a metered powder of a powder tank: The method comprises the steps of providing a powder dispenser comprising at least one total month such as a metering unit Item 6 - and the connection to the chamber inlets (21, 31) - to the powder tank, rotate the equiaxes (6, 7) ' until the metered powder is delivered. 156725.doc