WO2003010499A1

WO2003010499A1 - Dispensing device for a viscous product

Info

Publication number: WO2003010499A1
Application number: PCT/NL2002/000504
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eelco Han De Man; Frank Leendert Smits; Wouter Marius Stinesen
Original assignee: Dreumex B.V.
Priority date: 2001-07-27
Filing date: 2002-07-25
Publication date: 2003-02-06
Also published as: EP1412708A1; NL1018654C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for dispensing a viscous product, comprising a housing, at least one container arranged therein for receiving the product, the container being connected to a dispensing opening, and means for reducing the volume of container in which the product is received, so that by reducing the volume of the container the product id pressed out of the container through the dispensing opening and the container can be emptied optimally.

Description

DISPENSING DEVICE FOR A VISCOUS PRODUCT

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a viscous product. In addition, the invention relates to a container suitable for applying in such a dispensing device.

Known dispensing devices for viscous products, such as soap, chip sauce and the like, operate on the pumping principle. The dispensing device is provided with a container for receiving the product, wherein the container is connected to a dispensing opening. By means of a pumping operation a pressure difference is applied over the dispensing opening, whereby the product is drawn out of the container. The dispensing devices operating on a pumping principle have as main drawbacks that the pump therein is susceptible to fouling and wear and that the pump can be utilized for a limited range of liquid products. The present invention has for its object to provide an improved dispensing device for dispensing a viscous product .

According to the invention a device for dispensing a viscous product comprises a housing, at least one container arranged therein for receiving the product, which container is connected to a dispensing opening, and means for reducing the volume of the container in which the product is received. By reducing the volume of the container the product is pressed out of the container through the dispensing opening. The container can be empties optimally.

In accordance with a simple construction of the invention, the means for reducing the volume comprise a piston received displaceably in the container, and drive means for displacing the piston in the container. The piston principle can be utilized for a wide assortment of products from more to less viscous.

The drive means can preferably be operated by a control member protruding outside the housing. Through operation of the control member the drive means are activated to displace the piston in the container.

The drive means preferably comprise a drive member which is displaceable relative to the container and to which the piston is coupled. In advantageous manner the drive member makes a linear movement in the housing of the dispensing device.

In order to limit the dimension of the drive member, the device further comprises disconnectable co-displacing means for co-displacing the piston with the drive member in a forward stroke, which co-displacing means are disconnected for a return stroke of the drive member. The whole construction of the dispensing device can hereby be kept compact . A particularly advantageous embodiment consists of a gear rack as drive member, while the co-displacing means comprise a spring ratchet connected to the piston for co- action with the teeth of the rack.

In a further embodiment according to the invention the dispensing device further comprises blocking means for blocking a displacement of the piston away from the dispensing opening. Since a return movement of the piston is blocked, the contact between the co-displacing ratchet and the drive member is broken. In order to allow an empty container to be replaced instead of refilled, it is preferably arranged removably in the housing. In an advantageous embodiment means for breaking through a wall of the container are further arranged between the piston and the drive means . The drive can hereby be mounted as a whole adjacently of the container and a very compact construction can therefore be obtained for the dispensing device. An empty container can further be folded up, which produces less waste volume.

In order to provide more capacity and to have to refill respectively replace the container less often, two containers for a viscous product are arranged in the housing. Each container has its own piston and drive means for displacing this piston, while means are preferably provided for bringing the one control member into contact with each of the drive means separately. Only one of the containers is then operated and emptied before product is dispensed from the other container.

In addition, the invention relates to a container provided with a filling opening and a dispensing opening, which container comprises a lid for closing the filling opening and a closing element for closing the dispensing opening. The container is suitable for application as a removable container in a dispensing device according to the invention. Because the outlet opening is situated on the (refill) container, it is replaced each time. The outlet opening therefore has limited susceptibility to fouling.

According to the invention the lid preferably forms a piston for reducing the volume of the container in which the product is received. In order to place a container only the closing element is removed from the dispensing opening and the container is subsequently placed in the housing. The still present lid then forms a piston for dispensing the product . At least the wall of the container is preferably manufactured from plastic. This can be cut into easily using for instance a knife.

Finally, the container preferably has a rectangular cross-section with rounded corners, this compact form providing advantages in respect of space-saving during transport and placing in the dispensing device.

The invention will now be further elucidated with reference to the annexed drawings . In the drawings : Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device for dispensing a viscous product according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a rear view of the dispensing device of figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a view wherein a part of the housing is removed;

Figure 4 shows the dispensing device of figure 1, wherein the housing and the containers are removed;

Figure 5 shows a rear view of the dispensing device of figure 4; Figure 6 is a detail view according to arrow VI in figure 4, and

Figure 7 shows another embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device 1 for dispensing a viscous product. Dispensing device 1 is mounted on a wall using a wall rail 2. Dispensing device 1 comprises a housing 3 and a control member 4 protruding outside housing 3. Housing 3 consists of an upper wall 5, lower wall 6 and rear wall with integral side walls 7 (see figure 3), which together delimit a space for accommodating in this case two containers 9 with product for dispensing. The space can be closed off Toy means of two hinging covers 8. A transparent part or recess 10 can be provided in cover 8 for viewing container 9. Arranged in upper wall 5 of housing 3 is a screw

11 with which the internal parts of housing 3 are fixed.

In the rear view according to figure 2 can be seen the manner in which dispensing device 1 is mounted on wall rail 2. Dispensing device 1 is suspended from wall rail 2 with a piece of angle profile 12. The piece of angle profile

12 engages in a groove 13 arranged in rail 2. A locking is possible on the underside of rail 2 by means of a rotatable lip 14, which engages behind rail 2 or engages in a groove of rail 2. Depending on the form of the rotatable lip, the dispensing device will be clamped or locked such that it is still slidable to the left and the right along rail 2 (as indicated with the arrow in figure 2) . Rail 2 can in turn be fixed to a wall using screws engaging in openings 15. Further provided in housing 3 are adjustable supports 16 with which the housing can support on the wall and clearance between the rear wall 7 of housing 3 and the wall can be eliminated.

The internal parts of the dispensing device are shown in the perspective view of figure 3. Two removable containers 9 are arranged in the housing. Via a filling opening on the upper side a container 9 is filled with a viscous product, which is dispensed by a dispensing opening 18 on the underside. Both openings are closed before container 9 is placed in housing 3. A lid 17 serves to close the filling opening and a closing element, not shown in the drawing, serves to close the dispensing opening 18. The closing element can be a screw cap. Wall 22 of container 9 is manufactured from plastic of a type which on the one hand provides container 9 with sufficient strength and which can on the other be cut into relatively simply using a knife 26. Container 9 has a rectangular cross-section with rounded corners, which shape saves space during transport and placing in the housing. Lid 17 forms a piston 17 for reducing the volume of container 9 in which the product is received. For the purpose of displacing piston 17 in container 9 there is provided a pressing member, which is arranged on a carriage 20 which co- acts with a gear rack 21 displaceable relative to container 9. Between pressing member 19, which presses onto piston 17 from above, and drive means 20, 21 is arranged a knife 26 for cutting into the wall 22 of container 9. A partly cut-into container 9 is shown in dotted lines on the right-hand side of figure 3. Each gear rack 21 is operated by means of a control member 4 protruding outside housing 3. Transmission means 24 are arranged between this control member 4 rotatable on shaft 23 and the gear racks 21. These transmission means 24 transmit the rotating movement of control member 4 as a translating movement of gear rack 21. In addition, means 25 are further provided for bringing control member 4 into contact with only one of the two gear racks 21 via transmission means 24.

In the further broken-away view of figure 4 and associated rear view of figure 5 the transmission means 24 and drive means 20, 21 are shown once again in more detail. The operation of the means for bringing control member 4 into contact with each of the drive means separately will be explained on the basis of these figures. In the position of figure 4 the right-hand gear rack 21 is being operated. By tilting control member 4 around shaft 23 a U-shaped bracket 27 is tilted round a shaft 28. The legs of U-shaped bracket 27 are arcuate and provided along the periphery thereof with teeth which engage in an end of gear rack 21 provided with V- shaped grooves 30. When control member 4 is pushed downward, gear rack 21 will therefore be displaced a determined distance downward. Carriage 20 with pressing member 19 mounted thereon is co-displaced during this forward stroke. Pressing member 19 then pushes piston 17 downward in container 9 in order to thereby reduce the volume of the container 9 in which the product is received. The product will thereby be pushed outward through dispensing opening 18 of container 9. At each operation the carriage 20 will be displaced downward through a determined distance. Having almost arrived at the bottom, carriage 20 will at a given moment come into contact with a spring steel rod 31. This spring steel rod 31 is mounted in a rocker 32 which is fixed to U-shaped bracket 27. Rocker 32 is mounted rotatably in housing 3 by means of pin 33. Rocker 32 further consists of two arms 34, 35 which can each pivot on pivot point 36. A compression spring 37 is provided around arm 35 between pivot point 36 and the point of attachment to U-shaped bracket 27. When carriage 20 is brought into contact with rod 31, the first arm 34 will begin to rotate about pivot pin 33 and herein co-displace the second arm 35 until the first and second arm lie mutually in line. At a subsequent operation of control member 4 and downward displacement of carriage 20 the rocker 32 will shoot through its dead centre, this being enhanced by compression spring 37. When pivot point 36 displaces to the left, as shown in the drawing of figure 4, U-shaped bracket 27 will be displaced to the right. It will no longer be the right-hand toothed leg but the left-hand toothed leg of U-shaped bracket 27 which hereby makes contact with the associated drive means 20, 21. The system thus switches automatically to the following container with product for dispensing.

As can be seen in figure 5, a co-displacing ratchet 38 is provided on the rear side of carriage 20 for co- displacing piston 17 with drive member 21 in a forward stroke (downward displacement) . Co-displacing ratchet 38 is resilient transversely of its longitudinal direction to allow uncoupling from the teeth in a return stroke (upward displacement) of gear rack 21. In addition to co-displacing ratchet 38 there are provided blocking ratchets 39 which co- act with gear racks 40 fixedly arranged in housing 3. These blocking means 39, 40 ensure that the upward displacement of piston 17 is blocked and contact with co-displacing ratchet 38 is herein broken in order to hold the carriage 20 at its level in the housing, while driving gear rack 21 is displaced upward again. By means of a lever 41 rigidly connected to ratchets 38, 39 the ratchets can be lifted out of the teeth of the respective gear racks 21, 40 so as to enable free displacement of carriage 20 with pressing member 19 in housing 3.

There is a certain chance that a blocking as shown in the dispensing device according to figures 1-6 will drip after operation because a slightly increased pressure is still present in container 9. This pressure can be absorbed by arranging the co-displacing ratchet 38 resiliently in its longitudinal direction in carriage 20 and by not providing blocking ratchets 39, so that piston 17 can displace back upward through a small distance. Another solution consists of a resilient braking through friction between container 9 and knife 26. There is then the danger however that at the beginning and the end of the dispensing a malfunction occurs in the operation because too much friction occurs and piston 17 cannot be displaced downward. A compromise can consist of blocking ratchets 39 co-acting with gear racks 40 in the critical area, i.e. in the top and the bottom of the housing. Particularly at the beginning and end of the dispensing process the blocking ratchets 39 serve to generate sufficient resistance to break the contact between co-displacing ratchet 38 and gear rack 21 during an upward stroke of this driving gear rack 21. In the central area of the dispensing process it is the friction force generated between container 9 and knife 26 which can provide this resistance. It is particularly in this central area that dripping occurs. The co-displacing ratchet is resilient such that the pressure still prevailing in container 9 can be absorbed without dripping of the product occurring.

Figure 6 shows a detail view as according to arrow VI in figure 4. Pressing member 19 and carriage 20 are herein partly in cross-section, whereby knife 26 has become clearly visible.

Finally, figure 7 shows a second embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention. This embodiment is for only one container 9 with drive 20, 21 for the piston. Control handle 4 makes contact with gear rack 21 via a simple transmission element 24. Rocker 32 is unnecessary in this embodiment. The embodiment and operation thereof is otherwise the same .

Claims

1. Device for dispensing a viscous product, comprising a housing, at least one container arranged therein for receiving the product, the container being connected to a dispensing opening, and means for reducing the volume of the container in which the product is received.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for reducing the volume comprise a piston received displaceably in the container, and drive means for displacing the piston in the container.

3. Device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the drive means can be operated by a control member protruding outside the housing.

4. Device as claimed in claim 2 or 3 , wherein the drive means comprise a drive member which is displaceable relative to the container and to which the piston is coupled.

5. Device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising disconnectable co-displacing means for co-displacing the piston with the drive member in a forward stroke, the co- displacing means being disconnected for a return stroke of the drive member.

6. Device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the drive member comprises a gear rack and wherein the co-displacing means comprise a spring ratchet connected to the piston for co-action with the teeth of the rack.

7. Device as claimed in claim 5 or 6, further comprising blocking means for blocking a displacement of the piston away from the dispensing opening.

8. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the container is arranged removably in the housing.

9. Device as claimed in claim 8, further comprising means arranged between the piston and the drive means for breaking through a wall of the container.

10. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein two containers for a viscous product are arranged in the housing.

11. Device as claimed in claim 10, wherein means are provided for bringing the control member into contact with each of the drive means separately.

12. Container provided with a filling opening and a dispensing opening, the container comprising a lid for closing the filling opening and a closing element for closing the dispensing opening, wherein the container is suitable for application as a removable container in a dispensing device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims .

13. Container as claimed in claim 12, wherein the lid forms a piston for reducing the volume of the container in which the product is received.

14. Container as claimed in claim 12 or 13 , wherein at least the wall thereof is manufactured from plastic.

15. Device as claimed in any of the claims 12-14, wherein the container has a rectangular cross-section with rounded corners .