WO1995013217A2

WO1995013217A2 - Process and device for filling spray cans

Info

Publication number: WO1995013217A2
Application number: PCT/DE1994/001320
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dieter Grasser
Original assignee: Dieter Grasser
Priority date: 1993-11-10
Filing date: 1994-11-10
Publication date: 1995-05-18
Also published as: WO1995013217A3; EP0677012A1; DE4338296A1; DE59405180D1; ATE162769T1; DE4338296C2; EP0677012B1

Abstract

The invention pertains to a device and process for refilling spray cans (2), whether they are empty or contain some residual product. Equipped with a fill valve (8), the spray cans are tightly fitted into a device (1) in which, as a first step, they are filled with a pressure fluid. In a second step the fluid is let out, thus driving out any remaining product. In a third step the spray can is refilled with new spray stock and in a fourth step filled up with pressure fluid, after which the spray can be removed from the device.

Description

Device and method for filling spray bottles

Spray bottles used for a wide variety of purposes in everyday life are mostly disposable containers which, after they have either been completely emptied or at least depressurized, must be disposed of separately. In order to reduce the associated economic and time expenditure, several proposals have already been made, in particular for refilling spray bottles.

From DE-OS 34 45 977 a device for refilling spray bottles is known which has a pressure container screwed to a spray head or otherwise connected manually or mechanically detachably. For refilling, the spray head is removed from the completely empty pressure container, after which the pressure container can be filled again with spray material. Filling up propellants

Spare sheet middle takes place after the spray head has been screwed back onto the container via the spray valve.

Special, resealable spray cans are required here.

A device and a method for refilling spray bottles via their filling valve are also specified in the above-mentioned DE-OS. It is assumed that the spray bottle is completely empty, which is filled with the intended contents, known as flowing material, via a filler neck and then also with compressed air via the fill valve.

Any residues not fully expelled in the spray can can therefore contaminate the refilled filler.

From DE-OS 39 36 590 it is known to provide a conventionally designed spray can with pressure container and spray head in the area of its base with an air valve, via which air can be pumped into the interior of the pressure container by means of a hand-held air pump. The air valve is designed as a check valve, and the bottom of the pressure container is set back towards the spray head by the height of the air valve in order to create sufficient space for the air valve.

Refilling of spray material is not intended for this spray can.

From DE-GM 77 26 313 a blowing device provided for blowing away dust is known, which has an essentially cylindrical pressure vessel with an inwardly curved bottom and with a neck-like narrowing upper part, on which a blowing valve is provided. In the domed base ^'is used a non-return valve via which by means of an air pump

REPLACEMENT LEAF can be pumped into the pressure vessel. This can be released in a metered manner via the blow valve, so that the blow device is suitable for blowing away dust or other dirt on a smaller scale.

Filling with a spray material is not provided here, the device merely stores compressed air.

From DE-GM 88 08 407 a device for refilling propellants in spray bottles is known, which is provided with a filling valve at the bottom of the corresponding pressure container. The filling device has a pressure container which is brought to the required filling pressure by means of an electric pressure pump. The pressure container is connected to an outlet valve which can interact with the filling valve provided on the bottom of the spray bottle and which is opened when the spray bottle is placed on the outlet valve. If the pressure inside the partially empty spray bottle has dropped below the filling pressure in the pressure container, propellant is refilled from the pressure container into the spray bottle.

Although this device can maintain a substantially constant spray pressure until the spray bottle is completely emptied by repeatedly refilling propellant into the corresponding spray bottle, there is no refilling of spray material and therefore no real repeated use of the spray bottle.

DE-GM 90 13 487 describes a spray bottle which has an essentially cylindrical pressure vessel with a curved bottom and an internally threaded, bottle-like tapering neck. The neck encloses a relatively wide filling opening, into which a larger screw cap provided with internal threads is screwed. The screw cap carries a spray valve, by means of which the spray bottle is actuated in the

REPLACEMENT LEAF need is emptied.

Approximately in the middle of the curved bottom there is a filling valve designed as a check valve, via which a suitable propellant can be filled.

To fill the spray bottle, the spray bottle is filled by unscrewing the screw cap and the filling opening with the appropriate amount of the spray material. After the screw cap has been screwed on tightly, the appropriate amount of propellant is added via the filling valve arranged on the bottom.

This refillable spray bottle is provided with a screw cap which, even after being opened and closed several times, must be reliably leakproof, which increases the effort involved in producing this spray bottle.

Proceeding from this, it is an object of the invention to provide a device and a method for filling spray bottles with which spray bottles can be refilled several times, regardless of whether they have been completely emptied beforehand and whether or not they are under residual pressure . In addition, it is an object of the invention to provide a spray bottle suitable for the application of the method and a filling device suitable for carrying out the method.

REPLACEMENT LEAF The above-mentioned object is achieved with regard to the part aimed at creating a method by a method having the features of claim 1.

The first process step, in which the spray bottle is filled with a pressurized fluid, initiates a cleaning phase. Regardless of whether the spray ^¬ bottle is already empty or whether residual amounts of spray material and possibly a residual charge of ad may not blowing agents are present in the spray bottle, this maintaining a defined pressure pad. In the subsequent second process step, the pressurized fluid in the spray bottle expels any spray material residues and then flows mi ^* . ; o flow rate, whereby it can whirl up spray material residues hanging on the inside wall of the spray bottle or lying on the bottom thereof and discharge it to the outside. The spray bottle is empty following this emptying process. It contains neither fluid under pressure nor spray residue. The first and the second method step thus form a cleaning process, the defir. arte initial conditions for a subsequent filling process. The filling process is initiated by the third process step in which new spray material is poured into the spray bottle. The spray material can be identical to the spray material previously contained in the spray bottle. If necessary, and if necessary, another spray material can be filled in, in which case the requirements for the cleanliness of the spray bottle are increased. To ensure this, the first and second process steps can be repeated one after the other, if necessary several times. By filling of pressurized fluid in the Sprayfla ^¬ specific in the fourth Ver the filling operation is terminated lead step. The filled spray bottle is now ready for operation be ^¬. With the specified process steps multiple filling and refilling of spray bottles possible. The spray bottles can be reused many times, so that empty spray bottles no longer have to be thrown away. That reduces the amount of gauze.

If that still contains Spruhgut be filled spray bottle certainly neither pressure medium, which, for example, when first filling spray lashing the case, can be tet verzich ^¬ on the first and second process step.

If both the full steps of the first, third and fourth process steps as well as the emptying process are carried out via one and the same additional valve attached to the spray bottle, Gas Fuilventii through the last process step, nairuicn aas Ξin filling of pressure medium in the spray bottle, of possibly In addition, the separate full valve can be equipped with a cross-section such that both the felling and the emptying take place in a very short time. In particular, a drastic emptying process ensures a good cleaning effect of the spray bottle , because the fluid then flowing out at high speed can discharge spray residue.

If a gas is used as the fluid that does not condense even under pressure, a pressure cushion is formed that can expand very quickly. In particular, there is no delay, such as when expanding liquefied gases which first have to absorb ambient heat in order to be able to evaporate.

It is advisable to use a gas mixture, whereby compressed air can be used, especially if the spray material to be used is insensitive to atmospheric oxygen. A sufficient spray effect and also a sufficient cleaning effect are achieved if the predetermined pressure at which the fluid is located is dimensioned such that the amount of fluid to be filled into the spray bottle is sufficient to expel it, depending on the volume of the spray bottle and the amount of the spray material is.

Although it is sufficient if the fluid used to rinse the spray bottle is under a pressure which is sufficient to expel any spray material residues, it is advantageous, as already mentioned above, if the outlet process takes place in a very short period of time.

A good reproducibility of an intended Sprühgut¬ filling in the prayflasche is achieved if the to be filled in the third process step amount of new spray good is metered by an automatically operating dosing and filled ^'. Thus, the free space remaining in the spray bottle is determined at the same time ier take the pressurized fluid to be filled in afterwards. This ensures that there is sufficient fluid in each spray bottle to be filled in order to be able to drive out the entire spray material in later use. An overfilling with spray material, which would result in a lack of fluid serving as a propellant, is therefore excluded.

It is advantageous if the fluid to be filled in in the fourth process step is a gas. A gas mixture and in particular compressed air can be used. The process is simplified if the fluid used for the flushing process and the fluid used in the fourth process step to fill the spray bottle with pressure medium originates from the same fluid source in all of the process steps mentioned. If compressed air is used in the example, a common compressed air connection is sufficient. - S -

The part of the task aimed at creating a refillable spray bottle is solved by a spray bottle with the features of claim 16. The spray bottle has, in addition to the already existing Sprühven¬ til an additional filling valve, whereby the switching valve Full arbitrarily passage in both flow directions is ^¬ bar. This means that it can be used to fill and empty the spray bottle. The separate installation of the filling valve allows it to be designed according to the specific needs when filling and emptying. In particular, it can be provided with an effective cross section which is markedly larger than that of the spray valve. This allows effective cleaning and fast filling processes.

If the spray bottle has a substantially cylindrical pressure vessel with an inwardly curved bottom, in the recess of which the full valve is arranged, the full valve is completely absorbed by the bottom curvature of the spray bottle, so that it remains on a flat surface The surface can be set up without falling over. In addition, the separate filling valve arranged on the bottom shifts the center of gravity of the spray bottle downward, so that even spray bottles that are almost completely empty have improved stability. However, it is also possible to design the floor plan and to provide it with a foot ring which ensures the stability of the spray bottle.

If the filling valve has a flange provided for locking in a lock coupling, the spray bottle can be filled with a filling device without having to be held separately. The holding of the spray bottle, which is necessary when filling the spray bottle, takes place on the flange itself. Otherwise, the pressure container can have a bottle-like neck on its upper side, which is firmly closed with a cover part carrying a spray valve. Any thread it is not necessary to releasably connect the lid oil to the rest of the pressure bottle in the spray bottle. A fixed connection can be produced inexpensively and permanently, for example as a flanged connection.

The part of the task aimed at creating a device for filling spray bottles is achieved by a device having the features of claim 20. The device has a fluid coupling which can be brought into a low-leak connection with the filling valve, which ensures that when the spray bottle in question is filled or emptied, neither spray material nor fluid escapes and is lost or the device is contaminated. The control unit controlling the fluid supply and discharge through the fluid coupling and the transfer of predetermined quantities of spray material from the spray material supply into the spray bottle enables both one or more cleaning processes to be carried out and the spray bottle to be reproducibly filled with the Spray material and with pressurized fluid.

The fluid source is a compressed air source in a simple manner. In order to prevent fluid from flowing out of the device when no spray bottle is flanged to the device and the device is thus in stand-by mode, the fluid coupling can be designed as a locking coupling. This ensures that the fluid supply to the spray bottle is automatically interrupted when the spray bottle with its filling valve is released from the closure coupling. A backflow of fluid or sprayed material from the spray bottle into the closure coupling is reliably avoided because of the fluid pressure present until the closure coupling is closed. The connection is therefore low-leak.

If the control unit has an arbitrarily controllable channel for pressurizing the fluid coupling with pressure - Lo ¬ henden fluid, the fluid can be added to the spray bottle arbitrarily regardless of the filling of the spray bottle with spray material.

It is advantageous if the control unit has an arbitrarily controllable channel for blowing off fluid stored in the spray bottle. By opening this channel, a fluid supply located in the spray bottle can be let out in a simple manner, as a result of which residues of spray material located in the spray bottle are printed out and also carried away. The spray bottle is then empty and depressurized, thus creating a defined starting basis.

The spray bottle is advantageously filled with spray material via an arbitrarily controllable channel provided in the control unit, in which a metering unit and a pump unit for metering and pumping spray material are arranged.

The dosing unit and the pump unit can be formed by a single dosing pump, which combines both units. A simple and reliable structure is thus achieved.

A particularly simple and reliable solution is obtained when the metering pump is actuated by the pressurized fluid. The device then manages without additional auxiliary energy, such as, for example, electrical energy.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing. Show it:

1 shows a refillable spray bottle and a device for filling this spray bottle in a cutaway sectional view, FIG. 2 shows a control unit belonging to the device for filling spray bottles according to FIG. 1 in a schematic illustration and

3 a closure coupling belonging to the device according to FIG. 1 as well as a filling valve fastened to the bottom of the spray bottle according to FIG. 1 in a partially broken away representation and on an enlarged scale.

1 shows a device 1 for filling a spray bottle 2, which has a printing age 3 with a cylinder-shaped jacket 4 and an inwardly curved bottom 5. On the side opposite the bottom 5, the pressure container 3 is narrowed to a bottle neck 6, which is firmly closed with an end cap 7. A spray valve, not shown, is fastened in the end cover 7. On the bottom 5 of the pressure vessel 3, a full valve 8 is provided approximately in the center, the details of which can be seen in FIG. 3 and will be discussed later.

The device 1 for filling the spray bottle 2 is constructed on a stationary base frame 10 which forms a horizontally lying rigid base for a carrier 11. The carrier 11 is fixedly connected to the basic grating 10. In the carrier 11, a pressure channel 12 is formed, from which a pipe stub 13 leads vertically upwards out of the carrier 11. The stub 13 is provided at its upper end with a locking coupling 14, the construction of which is shown in detail in FIG. 3 and will be described later. A loose sleeve 15 is provided on the closure coupling 14 and is connected to a spray bottle holder 16.

The spray bottle holder 16 comprises an approximately circular, essentially flat plate, the edges of which are extended upwards in the manner of a hollow cylinder in such a way that they enclose the jacket 4 of the spray bottle 3.

The pressure channel 12 is connected via a line (not shown further) to a control unit 18 which is attached to the rear of a front plate 19 which has risen on the base frame 10. Via the control unit 18, the pressure channel 12 can optionally be connected to a compressed air source (not shown further). To control such switching operations are on the front panel A total of three buttons 21, 22, 23 are provided, of which the button 23 in FIG. 1 covers the buttons 21, 22.

The pressure channel 12 is also connected via a pressure line 24 and a check valve 25 to a pressure-side connection 26 of a metering pump 27.

The metering pump 27 is designed as a pneumatically actuated piston pump which is provided for metering and demanding spray material which is to be filled in with the spray bottle 2. For this purpose, the metering pump 27 has an aerosol cylinder

28, at the end of which, in FIG. 1, a cylinder head 29 is placed in a sealed manner. In the cylinder head

29, a channel 30 is provided, which is connected to the check valve 25. Another channel 31 leads to a suction-side connection 32, which leads via a check valve 33 to a spray material supply, not shown.

On its other left side in FIG. 1, the cylinder 28 is sealed with a sealing plate 34, which has a central guide bore 35 lying coaxially to the cylinder 28. A piston rod 36 is guided in the bore 35 in a sealed manner, the piston rod 36 leading into the interior of the cylinder 28 projecting end is provided with a disk-shaped piston 37, the circumferential surface of which is in contact with the cylinder 28 via a seal. The piston 37, the cylinder 28 and the cylinder head 29 limit a metering volume which is traversed during a complete working stroke of the piston 37.

The left-hand end of the piston rod 36 in FIG. 1 projects into an interior 39 of a further cylinder 40 which is sealed on the right-hand side on the sealing plate 34 and sits on its other left-hand side in FIG. 1 with a head plate 41. The piston rod 36 is connected at this end to a disk-shaped pneumatic piston 42, which is connected to the cylinder 40 via a seal 43 sealed and axially displaceable and is identical to the piston 37.

Both the partial space delimited by the piston 42 and the sealing plate 34 and the partial space delimited by the head plate 41 and the piston 42 are connected to the control unit 18 via channels not shown in FIG. 1.

The control unit 18 shown schematically in FIG. 2 is connected between the closure coupling 14, which is connected to the spray bottle 2 m, a compressed air source 45 and the spray material supply designated 46 here.

The control unit 18 has a first compressed air channel 47 which connects the compressed air source 45 to the pressure channel 12 which is directly connected to the locking coupling 14. In the compressed air channel 47, a check valve 48 is provided immediately after the pressure channel 12, which can open the way in the direction of the pressure channel 12 and otherwise blocks it. In addition, a pneumatically operated 3/2-way valve 49 is arranged in the compressed air channel 47 and is switched via a control line 51. Via the 3/2-way valve 49, the first compressed air duct 47 and thus also the pressure duct 12 are pressurized when the control line 51 is pressurized.

In order to be able to pressurize the control line 51 or to switch it to zero pressure, a further 3/2-way valve 52 is provided, which connects the control line 51 to the compressed air source 45 when actuated. The 3/2-way valve 52 is a control valve 53 which is manually operated via the button 23 and which is spring-loaded in its rest position. In the rest position of the manually operated control valve 53, the control line 51 is depressurized.

To blow off compressed air in the spray bottle 2 and any spray material residues present is in the Control unit 18 is provided with a second, controllable compressed air channel 55 serving as an outlet channel, with which the pressure channel 12 has an outlet via a pneumatically controlled 3/2-way valve 56, which serves as a blow-off valve 57

58 is connected. The blow-off valve 57 is provide so be¬ that it opens the compressed-air channel 55, ie ver to the outlet 58 ^e friend, when the pressure prevailing in an associated control line 59 pressure markedly greater than the herr¬ in a further connected control line 61 Schende pressure is . Conversely, if the pressure in the control line 61 is greater than that in the control line

59 prevailing pressure, the blow-off valve 57 switches back, the compressed air channel 55 being blocked again.

The control line 59 is also connected to the pneumatically actuated 3/2-way valve 49 in order to shut off the compressed air channel 47 when it is under a pressure which is noticeably greater than the pressure prevailing in the control line 51.

The control line 59 is connected to the compressed air source 45 via a 3/2-way valve 62 which is manually actuated by the button 21 to its closed position and is spring-loaded and which serves as a control valve for initiating a blow-off process.

The metering pump 27, which is actuated by the pneumatic piston 42 running in the cylinder 40, is arranged in a further spray material channel 65 which serves to fill the spray bottle 2 with spray material taken from the spray material supply 46. The partial volumes divided by the pneumatic piston 42 in the cylinder 40 are each connected via lines 66, 67 to a 5/2-way valve 68 which connects either one or the other partial volume to the compressed air source 45.

The 5/2-way valve 68 is switched pneumatically and is connected to the control line 61 and to one for this purpose further control line 69 connected. If the pressure prevailing in the control line 61 exceeds that of the control line 69, the 5/2-way valve 68 gives compressed air m the partial volume delimited by the pneumatic piston 42 and the head plate 41. If, on the other hand, only the control line 69 is pressurized, compressed air is given to the partial volume lying between the pneumatic piston 42 and the sealing plate 34

The control line 69 is controlled by a hand-operated by the pushbutton 22, overloaded to its closed position to federbe ^¬ control valve 71st In contrast, the control line 61 is pressurized or depressurized by a 3/2-way control valve 72 acting as a stop switch. The 3/2-way control valve 72 clears the way from the compressed air source 45 to the control line 61 when the pneumatic piston 42 reaches a maximum position to the left in FIGS. 1 and 2. Otherwise, the 3/2-way control valve 72 switches the control line 61 depressurized.

FIG. 3 shows the closure coupling 14, which is shown only schematically in FIG. 2, and the full valve 8 mounted on the bottom 5 of the spray bottle 2, which is only shown in sections. The essentially tubular full valve 8 is arranged with its axis of symmetry 75 concentric with the axis of symmetry of the spray bottle 2 and is attached to a corresponding opening in the bottom 5 of the spray bottle 2 by means of a nut 76 which connects the full valve 8 with a provided on it Flange and a seal 78 (O-Rmg) sealed. The full valve 8 sits tightly in the corresponding opening in the bottom 5.

Following the nut 76, the full valve 8 has a longer cylindrical section 79 which merges via a conical surface 80 into a likewise cylindrical section 81 with a smaller diameter. By doing cylindrical section 79 there is an annular groove 82 which serves as a locking groove and is laterally delimited by conical surfaces.

The filling valve 8 has a concentric through-hole 83 which tapers in several stages towards its mouth 84, which lies away from the base 5.

Starting from the mouth 84, the through bore 83 initially runs in a cylindrical shape, whereupon it widens with a sealing surface 85 lying on a conical surface and merges into a further essentially cylindrical part.

On the sealing surface 85, an O-ring 87 belonging to a valve body 86 is supported, which sits tightly in an annular groove 88 of the valve body 86. An annular shoulder 89 is provided on a side of the valve body 86 opposite the O-ring 87, on which a helical spring 92 supported at the other end by a snap ring 91 is supported.

To cooperate with the filling valve 8 described so far, the closure coupling 14 is provided, which is shown in FIG. 3 in the axial extension of the filling valve 8. The locking coupling 14 has a base body 98 consisting of two tube-shaped Tilgen parts 96, 97 screwed together, which limits an approximately cylindrical passage 99 connected to the pressure channel 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A stationary valve mandrel 101 is provided within the passage 99 coaxially with the otherwise rotationally symmetrical base body 98, which is screwed to the base body 98 via a truncated cone-shaped, multi-perforated holder 102. The valve mandrel 101 has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the mouth 84 of the through bore 83 At its mouth end, the valve mandrel 101 carries an O-Rmg 103 in an annular groove, which seals in the rest position with an annular valve member 104. The valve member 104 in turn has an O-ring 106 inserted in an annular groove open on both sides, which seals it against the part 96. The O-Rmg 106 lies both on the inner wall of the part 96 and on a rear flank 107 of an axially displaceable, coaxially arranged locking ring 108.

The locking ring 108 radially covers the bore 96 arranged in the part 96, in which locking balls 110 of the same diameter are seated.

The locking balls 110 protrude outward beyond the outer lateral surface of the part 96 and protrude into an inwardly open annular groove 112 of the loose sleeve 15, which is mounted coaxially and displaceably on the part 96. The loose sleeve 15 is tensioned by a helical spring 114 supported on an annular shoulder provided on it and at the other end on the part 97 on the locking balls 110 and thus on the bottom 5 of the spray bottle 2. In the same direction, the valve member 104 is tensioned by a coil spring 115, which is supported at the end of the valve member 104 itself and at the other end of the holder 102. The bias of the coil springs 114, 115 biases the valve member 104 to its closed position with its O-Rmg 106, and the annular groove 112 of the loose sleeve 15 is printed against the locking balls 110 with an inclined surface 116.

The loose sleeve 15 merges into a plate 121 provided with an edge 120, which forms the spray bottle holder 16 shown in FIG. 1.

The device 1 for filling spray bottles 2 described so far operates according to the method according to the invention as follows: With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, it is assumed that the spray bottle 2 is inserted with its filling valve 8 into the closure coupling 14 at the beginning of the filling process. The flange of the filling valve 8 formed by the sections 79 and 81 enters the opening formed by the passage 99 in the part 96 of the lock coupling 14. Thus, the filling valve 8, with its end face surrounding the mouth 84, pushes the valve member 104 against the action of the pretensioning of the screwdriver eder 115 into the locking coupling 14, the O-ring 106 sealing with the flat surface adjoining the mouth 84. The valve member 104 slides off the O-ring 103 which is mounted on the valve mandrel 101 in a stationary manner, as a result of which the locking coupling 14 opens.

At the same time, the valve mandrel 101 rests with its face-side flat surface on the outward-facing flat surface of the valve body 86 and moves it against the action of the prestress of the coil spring 92 into the through bore 83, whereby the O-ring 87 lifts off from the sealing surface 85 . The full valve 8 is thus also open.

When the filling valve 8 penetrates into the closure coupling 14 and when the valve formed by the valve member 104 and the valve formed by the valve body 86 open, the conical surface 80 takes the locking ring 108 with it and thereby displaces it against the tension of the helical spring 115 until the latter bores 109 releases. Now the locking balls 110 driven inward by the helical spring 114 via the inclined surface 116 can enter the annular groove 82. As a result, the loose sleeve 15 is released, which slides over the bores 109 under the action of the tension of the coil spring 114 and thus locks the locking balls 110 in the annular groove 82 of the filling valve 8. The filling valve 8 is thus firmly seated in the locking coupling 14, the passage for both Liquids as well as gases are released in both directions.

The control circuit has the state shown in FIG. Compressed air from the compressed air source 45 then penetrates via the compressed air channel 47 into the pressure container 3 of the spray bottle 2 via the compressed air channel 47 and the check valve 48. This happens regardless of whether there is a residual filling of spray material and / or any propellant still present, that is to say compressed air, for example, in the pressure container 3. The pressure container 3 of the spray bottle 2 is thereby filled with compressed air up to the operating pressure of the compressed air source 45 of, for example, 8 bar. This process takes place very quickly immediately after inserting the spray bottle 2 with the filling valve 8 into the closure coupling 14.

If the 3/2-way valve 62 is now actuated via the button 21, the control line 59 receives compressed air. The control line 51, however, is depressurized. The 3/2-way valve 49 accordingly switches over, as a result of which the compressed air channel 47 is shut off and no further compressed air is supplied from the compressed air source 45 into the compressed air channel 47.

At the same time, the blow-off valve 57 located in the second controllable compressed-air channel 55 switches over, thereby clearing the way from the spray bottle 2 and the pressure channel 12 via the compressed-air channel 55 and the blow-off valve 57 to the outlet 58. This path has a relatively low flow resistance, so that the compressed air stored in the pressure container 3 of the spray bottle 2 first expels any spray material residues which may be in the pressure container 3 and then flows out even at a relatively high flow speed. At the end of this outflow process which takes place in a matter of seconds, the pressure vessel 3 is depressurized and empty. By actuating the button 22 belonging to the control valve 71, the control line 69 is now pressurized, as a result of which the 5/2-way valve switches and thus connects the partial space delimited by the pneumatic piston 42 and the sealing plate 34 to the compressed air source 45 and thus to compressed air acted upon. The pneumatic piston 42 therefore moves to its left position in FIGS. 1 and 2, taking the piston 37 with it via the piston rod 36. The metering cylinder formed by the piston 37 and the cylinder 28 thereby draws spray material out of the spray material supply 46 via the ratchet valve 33.

As soon as the pneumatic piston 42 reaches its m FIG. 2 position, it switches over the 3/2-way control valve 72 via a symbolically indicated plunger, thereby connecting the control line 61 to the compressed air source 45. As a result of the pressure now present on the control line 61, the blow-off valve 57 switches over, so that the second controllable compressed air channel 55 serving for blowing off is closed. In addition, the 5/2-way valve 68 is switched back via the pressurized control line 61, so that the compressed air arriving from the compressed air source 45 now flows via the line 66 into the other partial volume delimited by the pneumatic piston 42 and the head plate 41 is directed. The pneumatic piston 42 now pushes the piston 37 into its rightmost position in FIG. 2 as far as possible via the piston rod 36, as a result of which the check valve 33 closes and the sprayed material sucked in by the piston 37 via the check valve 25, the closure coupling 14 and the full valve 8 is pumped into the still pressure-free pressure container 3 of the spray bottle 2.

If the control valve 53 is now actuated via the button 23, the 3/2-way valve 49 is switched back to its position shown in FIG. 2, whereby the channel 47 is again connected to the compressed air source 45 and the pressure container 3 of the spray bottle 2 Via the 3/2-way valve 49, the compressed air channel 47, the check valve 48, de Closure coupling 14 and the full valve 8 are charged with compressed air up to the operating pressure of.

To remove the spray bottle 2, which has been filled with spray material as well as compressed air as a propellant after the end of the described process, the spray bottle holder 16 connected to the Losehulse 15 is moved downwards, ie from the bottom 5 of the spray bottle 2 moved away until the annular groove 112 comes back into the area of the bores 109. Under the action of the tension of the spring 115, the valve member 104 is now displaced, the lock 108, the locking balls 110 driving radially outward. The locking balls 110 lock the loose sleeve 15 m in this position. Zu¬ equal slides daε Full valve 8 from the opening of the part, both below 96 the action of the coil spring 115 and under the action of m the full valve 8 pre see ^¬ NEN coil spring 92 so far out that both the formed by the valve member 104 and the with close the check valve formed in the valve body 86. In this entire process, the pressure channel 12 is under pressure, so that in the unlocking process just described, a small amount of compressed air may possibly escape to the outside, but in no case can spray material 2 filled in the spray bottle 2 escape.

The filling process is ended when the spray bottle 2 is removed from the device 1.

As can be seen, the operation of the device is very simple. After inserting the spray bottle 2 m into the device 1, only the keys 21, 22, 23 are actuated one after the other and the filled spray bottle 1 can be removed. The filling quantities and full prints introduced into the spray bottle 2 are not dependent on the duration with which the buttons 21, 22, 23 are printed. This filling process is suitable both for filling empty and for refilling partially or completely emptied, already used spray bottles. If a spray bottle to be filled is to be cleaned particularly thoroughly of any spray material residues present in the pressure container 3, the flushing process can be repeated several times by actuating the buttons 21, 23 several times.

In summary, the process can be used to fill the spray bottle 2 briefly through the steps beschrei ^¬ ben:

Connecting a valve of the spray bottle 2 to the filling device 1,

Pouring fluid under a predetermined pressure into the spray surface 2 by means of the filling device 1,

Discharging the pressurized fluid under εtehenden Mit¬ possibly taking in the spray bottle 2 existing spray gutreste from the spray bottle 2 via the Füllvorrich ^¬ device 1 via an existing filling device in the channel 55, 58,

Filling a defined amount of new spray material into the spray bottle 2 by means of the filling device 1,

refilling fluid under a predetermined pressure into the spray bottle 2 by means of the filling device 1, and

Removal of the spray bottle 2 from the filling device 1.

In the method, when filling pressure-free and spray-free spray bottles 2, the first and the ^"Allvorgange the third and fourth Ver ahrens step DARCH the ge ^¬ sondertes Full valve be made. 8

All to m the first, third and fourth method step running Full precedent and m the second process step to be carried out Ent ^¬ be made through a single valve emptying process.

A separate full valve 8 can be used as the valve for filling and emptying. A gas can be used as the fluid, for example compressed air is suitable. The predetermined pressure should be such that the amount of fluid to be filled in the spray bottle is sufficient, depending on the volume of the spray bottle and the amount of spray material, to expel the entire amount of spray material filled.

The outlet process taking place in the second method step should preferably take place over a period of time which is at most a few seconds. The maximum flow rate of the fluid flowing out in the second process step is thus chosen to be so high that spray material residues standing in the spray bottle are whirled up and blown out.

Claims

Claims:

1. method for filling spray bottles (2),

in which the spray bottle (2) is filled with a fluid under a predetermined pressure in a first step of a cleaning process,

in which, in a second step of the cleaning process, the pressurized fluid is discharged from the spray bottle (2), taking any spray material residue present in the spray area (2),

in a third step following the cleaning process, a defined amount of new spray material is introduced into the spray bottle (2) and

in which, in a fourth step, fluid again under a predetermined pressure is introduced into the spray bottle (2).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that when filling pressure-free and spray-free spray bottles (2) the first and the second procedural step are omitted, the filling operations of the third and fourth process step being carried out by a separate filling valve (8) .

3. The method of claim 1, de ^~ .urch gekennzeich¬ net that all renεschritt in the first, third and fourth Verfah running filling operations and to be carried out in the zwei¬ th process step emptying process be carried out through a single valve.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that a separate filling valve (8) is used as the valve. - A Ό -

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in ^¬ net that a gas or Gasge is used as .tsch flui.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that compressed air is used as fluid.

7. The method according to claim 1 or 6, characterized ge ^¬ indicates that the cleaning process is a rinsing process in which the spray bottle (2) is rinsed with the fluid.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in ^¬ net, that the predetermined pressure is such that the ^¬ in the spray bottle to be filled amount of fluid in Ab dependence of the volume of the spray bottle and the amount of sprayed material to the expeller, deε existing sprayed material is sufficient.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the Aus¬ let out in the second step of the process takes place in a period of time that is at most a few seconds.

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in ^¬ net, that the maximum flow rate of the effluent in the second process step the fluid is chosen so high that might be stirred up in the spray bottle standing Sprühgutreεte and blown.

11. The method according to claim 1, characterized in ^¬ net that the einzufüllen¬ in the third process step de new amount sprayed material is metered by a metering device and operate automatically ^¬ de filled.

12. Device (1) for filling spray bottles (2), with a medium pressure valve (45 ^N ΓJΓ. Providing pressurized fluid.

with a spray stock (46),

with a fluid coupling (14), which can be connected to a low-leak connection with a full valve (8) provided on the spray bottle (2),

with an arbitrarily controllable channel (55) for blowing off fluid stored in the spray bottle (2) and

with a control unit (18) with which the fluid supply and discharge through the fluid coupling (14) and the transfer of pre-set quantities of spray material from the spray material supply (46) can be controlled with the spray surface (2).

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the pressure medium source (45) is a compressed air ^¬ source (45).

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the fluid coupling is a closure coupling (14).

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the control unit (18) has an arbitrarily controllable channel (4 ") for pressurizing the fluid coupling (14) with pressurized fluid.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the control unit (18) has an arbitrarily controllable channel (65), which a metering unit and a pump unit for metering and pumping spray material into the spray bottle (2) are arranged.

17. Device after - "spoke 1c acurc" marked that the

and e

of a single metering pump [2 ^~~ , blown s nd.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the metering pump (27) is actuated by the pressurized fluid.

19. Device for filling spray bottles (2) with at least one valve (8),

with a fluid coupling (14) to which the spray surface (2) with the valve (8) can be connected,

with a controllable spray material channel (30, 31) connected to the fluid coupling (14) at the end, which can be connected at the other end to a spray material supply (46),

with a conveying device (27), which is arranged in the spray channel (30, 31),

with a controllable propellant channel (67) which is connected at one end to the connecting means (14) and at the other end can be connected to a supply (45) of pressurized fluids,

Nends is connected to a controllable drain passage (55, 58) eme ^¬ to the connecting means (14), and

with a control device (18) via d-_e the spray channel (30, 31), the propellant channel (67) and the drain channel (55, 58) are controlled.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the propellant supply (45) is a pressure medium ^¬ source.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that the propellant supply .45. one is a source of compressed air.

22. The apparatus according to claim 19, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the conveyor (27) is a metering pump.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the metering pump (27) driven by the pressurized fluid iεt.

24. dosing device (27) for dosing and pumping spray material to be filled into spray bottles (2),

with a fluid-operated drive device (39, 40, 42),

with a pump device (27) which is connected to and driven by the drive device (39, 40, 42) and which can be brought into fluid communication with a supply of spray material (46), and

with a monitoring device (68, 72) which is connected to the pump device (27) and controls it in such a way that after starting the drive device (39, 40, 42) the pump device (27) requests a defined quantity of spray material.

25. Dosing device according to claim 24, characterized in that the drive device (39, 40, 42) is a working cylinder (40) with a piston (40) slidably mounted therein (40).

26. Dosiereinrichtung according to Anεpruch 24, characterized in that the pump device (27) is a piston ^¬ pump with a working piston (37).

27. A metering device according to claims 25 and 26, characterized in that the piston (40) device of the drive input (39, 40, 42) and the working piston (37) of the pump means (27) via a piston rod (36) mitein ^¬ other are connected.

28. Dosing device according to claim 26, characterized in that the monitoring device (68, 72) is controlled by the linear movement of the working piston (37) of the pump device (27) and the movement of the working piston (37) by a suction movement a Druckbe ^¬ movement umεteuert, εobald the Arbeitεkolben has reached a definier¬ th Umεchaltpunkt.

29. Refillable spray area (2) with a closed pressure container (3), which has a bottle-like neck on its top, which is inseparably closed with an end cover (7) carrying a spray valve, the pressure container as a further valve merely being a filling valve ( 8), which is arbitrarily switchable for passage in both directions of flow and thereby permeable to both spray material and propellant.

30. Spray bottle according to claim 29, characterized in that the full valve (8) has a flange provided for locking in a sealing coupling (14).

31. Spray bottle according to claim 29, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the spray bottle (2) has a substantially cylindrical pressure vessel (3) with an inwardly curved bottom (5), in the depression daε filling valve (8) is arranged.