WO2018157934A1

WO2018157934A1 - Device and method for monitoring suspensions

Info

Publication number: WO2018157934A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/054904
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rob Vanderhenst; Bernhard Felten; Stefan Scheede
Original assignee: Beiersdorf Ag
Priority date: 2017-03-02
Filing date: 2017-03-02
Publication date: 2018-09-07

Abstract

The invention relates to a system comprising an energy generator (7), an energy store (6) and a locking unit (9), which has a blocking device (4) and a trigger mechanism (5), for protection against premature removal of dispersions from containers.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SUSPENDING MONITORING

Heterogeneous mixtures of substances that hardly dissolve or chemically bond with each other are called dispersions.

Homogeneous dispersions, ie dispersions in which the inner phase is uniformly distributed over the entire amount of the outer phase, are partially unstable. In many cases, after some time there is a segregation and the inner phase is separated from the outer phase.

This is especially true for liquid-liquid dispersions, the emulsions and liquid-solid

Dispersions, the suspensions, the case. In suspensions, the solids usually sink to the bottom or float on the surface.

How long a suspension remains homogeneous depends on various parameters. Among other things, it is crucial how large the density difference between suspended particles and the suspending agent is. Also, the viscosity of the suspending agent and the polarity of solid and suspending agent is of critical importance for the stability of suspensions.

In some cases suspensions may be caused by e.g. Stabilize thickeners or matrix formers so that they do not show segregation during the normal consumption period and that the solids remain evenly distributed in suspension.

In many cases, however, suspensions do not stabilize enough that they must be resuspended before use. Examples of this are, for example, in

technical field paints or varnishes or in cosmetics the antiperspirants.

The same applies to the same applies to emulsions, both the inner phase is liquid, instead of fixed as in suspensions.

The resuspension can be done in the simplest case by stirring. For sprayable

Suspensions which are used as aerosol, the resuspension is usually carried out by vigorous and long shaking of the aerosol container. In order to support the resuspension and make it acoustically experiencable, one or more balls of a solid and stable material are enclosed in the aerosol container, which are thrown back and forth during shaking and ensure good mixing.

From DE 2991 1370 U1 a shaking apparatus for testing the redispersibility of suspensions is known in which the test sample is subjected to a sinusoidal shaking motion. However, this apparatus is only for measuring the redispersibility of Suspensions and does not provide a means to protect consumers from using incompletely suspended dispersions.

However, the resuspension takes some time. Insufficient resuspension may cause blockage or discharge of too much or too little solid. To ensure the expected use, it must be ensured that the resuspension is complete and a homogeneous suspension is dispensed.

Is spoken in the context of this invention of suspensions and resuspension, this is only for simplicity. For the purposes of the application, other disperse systems, in particular emulsions which have to be re-emulsified, are to be understood by suspension.

It is known that the consumer is prescribed how long he for example the

Spray paint sprayer or the deodorant shake before spraying to achieve a satisfactory result.

Tests have shown that the sense of time of consumers is very different and usually not shaken (resuspended) long enough, or the shaking frequency is very different.

For a person skilled in the art it was surprising that a system comprising at least one

Power generator, at least one energy storage and at least one locking unit, each having a blocking device and a trigger mechanism, can be used to protect against early removal of suspensions from containers.

According to the invention, all containers can be used in which a dispersion can be stored and the dispensing of the container contents takes place via a valve, a pump or an output channel. Preferably, it is aerosol container with valve,

Spray bottles with (trigger) pump, squeeze bottles with or without riser or

like.

The generation of electrical energy by translational movement of an object in space is known. A simple example of this is flashlights which are activated and charged by shaking (for example US 20060050504 or US 9,975,714).

According to the invention, the energy generator is advantageously connected directly to the container in which the suspension is located, so that the movements to which the container is subjected also act on the energy generator.

To store the energy is used in the simplest case, a capacitor that the from

Energy producer receives and stores generated energy.

Instead of the capacitor, however, it is also possible to use corresponding accumulators for energy storage. Also, the generation of energy by means of mechanical movement and storage of the energy thus generated in mechanical storage, has been out for almost a hundred years

Automatic watches known. In this case, the spring is automatically wound up during arm movements of the carrier by a rotor in small steps.

For the purposes of the invention, it is also the energy as 'pressure' to store in a hydraulic or pneumatic system. Where by the movement of a fluid (gas or

Liquid) is pressurized by a type of pump and the storage of energy by increasing the pressure or by increasing the volume in a pressure accumulator takes place.

The locking unit according to the invention is a component that converts electrical energy into kinetic energy or mechanical energy directly causes a movement of a component, wherein the movement to release the dispensing opening or

Output unit (control panel) leads. Only after the release is the output by the

Consumer allows.

The locking unit is used to block the output of the suspension through the

Consumer. For aerosols, this would be to prevent the spray head from being pushed down by a bar blocking the spray head. For pump sprays, the unlocking of the pump mechanism, especially the trigger.

In other embodiments, the locking unit could be a mechanical or

comprise electromechanically actuated valve, which prevents the flow of the suspension through an output channel.

Advantageous in the context of the invention is that the locking unit comprises a magnetic coil as a trigger mechanism, which, as soon as a sufficiently high voltage is applied, attracts or repels a magnetic and movable element (latch / blocking device), whereby another component, in particular a spray cap or an output channel is no longer blocked.

The consumer moves that equipped with an inventive system

Suspension container, as soon as the energy storage is filled and a certain

Voltage and amount of charge is available on the energy storage, the

Triggering mechanism actuated and the blocking device is opened, whereby the output unit or the output channel are released.

In the case of a mechanical energy storage, an actuation of the blocking device would take place in the locking unit when a certain force is built up in the mechanical energy store. Mechanical energy stores can be realized, in particular, by spiral springs, whose 'force build-up' takes place by means of a rotational movement (gradual rolling up by flywheel mass). Suspension containers in the context of the invention are containers which are filled with a suspension. Advantageously, one or more solid and compact portions of a suspension compatible material, such as small stainless steel balls, assist the resuspension as the container moves.

The time required for suspension, ie the time to be shaken until the release of the output, can be predetermined by the capacity of the energy storage or by the power of the power generator. The higher the capacity of the energy storage, the longer the user has to shake the container.

More powerful energy producers lead to faster filling of a

Energy storage of the same capacity.

Only when the energy storage is filled, the threshold voltage / force is reached to trigger within the locking device and the removal of the suspension can take place.

An advantage of the invention is that the power generation is dependent on the speed, frequency and acceleration. The time to recharge the energy storage and thus to reach the threshold voltage thus depends on how intense is moved. With slower movements, it takes longer for the output unit to be released than for fast movements. The complete resuspension before the release of the output is thus ensured even with less violent movements.

The activated trigger mechanism consumes the energy stored in the energy store, which, after some time, drops below the threshold voltage / force. A second edition of the suspension would then no longer be without previous, renewed

Shaking possible because the locking unit falls back into the closed state, ie in the blocking position, or the blocking mechanism actuated by the trigger mechanism (in particular latch) back into the closed state, ie in the blocking position, back.

The degradation of the energy in the storage tank should correspond in time to the separation process of the suspension and should not last longer than the separation process. As a result, the locking unit blocks the triggering mechanism only when it is really necessary to resuspend. This reliably prevents the already useless, unmixed suspension from being dispensed.

In an advantageous embodiment, the system has a means for visualizing the state of the triggering mechanism. Such an indicator can prevent misuse. The invention is also advantageous in that the less effective dispersion aid can be used, wherein under bad an unsatisfactory

Long-term stability is understood. Thus, it is possible environmentally friendly and / or

Use inexpensive emulsifiers / suspension aids, since the device of the invention ensures adequate resuspension or re-emulsification before use.

It is also possible to maintain the inner and outer phases of the dispersion in separate chambers, to transfer them to a mixing chamber before dispensing and to monitor the dispensing with the device according to the invention.

Examples of the construction of systems according to the invention are shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The following reference numbers are used:

10 inventive system (English, inventive system)

1 container containing suspension (English container)

2 valve (engl., Valve)

3 control panel (actuator)

4 blocking system

5 release mechanism

6 energy storage (English, energy storrage)

7 energy supply / energy generator)

8 Indicator

9 locking unit (release mechanism)

1 1 control unit

12 spring

Figure 1 shows a container 1, the emptying of which is possible via a valve 2. In the case of an aerosol spray can, as used for antiperspirants and paints, can and valve components 1 and 2, wherein for depressing the valve on the valve, a spray head is placed as a control panel 3.

The operating part 3 is prevented by the blocking device 4 from acting on the valve 2. In the specific embodiment shown in FIG

Blocking device 4 permanently held by the spring 12 in the blocking position. Only when a trigger mechanism 5 acts in the opposite direction to the spring load on the blocking device 4, the control panel 3 is released and the valve 2 can be triggered (opened or depressed). The trigger mechanism 5 is over the Buffer memory 6 is supplied with energy, the triggering takes place only when the buffer memory includes a certain amount of energy. The energy storage device 6 is fed by the energy generator (generator) 7, which generates mechanical or electrical energy as soon as the system is moved (shaken). For this purpose, the energy generator is connected directly to the container or installed in a component connected to the container, so that every movement of the container results in energy generation in the energy generator.

It is advantageous to design the power generator so that different amounts of energy is generated depending on the direction of movement of the container, because the suspending effect is not the same in each direction of movement of the container. It is particularly advantageous if the energy generator only generates energy or its maximum

Power generation performance then has when the container in the longitudinal direction, ie parallel to its largest direction of expansion, is moved.

According to the invention, the energy store 6 can be a capacitor whose stored charge quantity is proportional to the applied voltage. If the capacitor is charged with a certain amount of charge and thus reaches a certain voltage, the triggering mechanism will move the blocking system to an open position.

As energy storage, for storing mechanical energy, springs (spring storage such as used in mechanical watches) can also be used. If a certain spring force is built up in the spring accumulator, the blocking system is set in an open position.

Since the energy in the energy store is built up slowly and then degraded again, it is advantageous according to the invention to visualize the charging state via an indicator 8 connected to the energy store 6. In a very simple case, the indicator may be a lamp which lights up as soon as the energy store exceeds a predefined filling state and has set the blocking system in the open state. Does that happen?

Locking system back to the locked state, usually when the energy storage falls below a predefined filling level, the indicator lamp is turned off. It is advantageous to design the indicator as an LED, since LEDs themselves have a very low energy consumption and thus the energy required for the blocking system is not excessively 'cannibalized'.

In the case of mechanical energy storage, the state of charge can be e.g. make visible about the shift of color markings.

Figure 2 shows a variant of the reproduced in Figure 1 system in which the

energy transferable connection between energy storage 6 and trigger mechanism 5 is an electrical connection and within this electrical connection a

Control unit 1 1 is seated, which when a voltage A is exceeded, the electrical connection from Energy storage 6 to the triggering mechanism 5 electrically conductively releases and falls below a voltage B, the electrical connection from the power generator 6 to

Trigger mechanism 5 interrupts. The voltage A at the release of the

Trigger mechanism takes place, which means the voltage when the trigger mechanism is activated is greater than or equal to voltage B, at which the trigger mechanism is deactivated again. This achieves a delayed behavior (hysteresis).

Claims

claims

1 . Device for ensuring the redispersion of an internal phase, in one

Container 1, characterized in that the device one or more

Power generator 7, one or more energy storage 6 and one or more locking units 9, wherein at least one power generator 7 is connected to at least one energy storage 6 energy transferable and wherein the locking device 9 is a system comprising a

Triggering mechanism 5 and a blocking device 4, wherein at least one energy store 6 with at least one trigger mechanism. 5

is connected to transfer energy, wherein in the power generator 7 under

Influence of translational movement generated energy is stored in the power generator 7 connected to the energy storage 6 and wherein once the energy storage

6 a certain amount of stored energy is exceeded, by the energy storage 6 connected to the trigger mechanism 5 with energy from the

Energy storage 6 is supplied, whereby the triggering mechanism 5 at least one movable element is set in motion, which leads to the release of the blocking device 4.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy generator 7 at least one coil of conductive material, in particular of metal wire, especially of copper wire and

comprises at least one permanent magnet,

wherein the permanent magnet is enclosed by the coil so that it can translate freely in the preferred direction of the coil when the power generator

7 is moved, wherein in the coil, a voltage is induced.

3. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the energy store 6 is a capacitor, in particular an electrolytic capacitor.

4. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the energy store 6 is a spiral spring.

5. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the locking unit 9 has a magnetic coil as a trip unit.

6. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the energy-transferable connection is an electrical connection and between the energy generator 7 and the energy store 6 is a rectifier sitting, the generated by the power generator 7 AC in storable

DC converts.

7. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the energy transferable connection between

Energy storage 6 and release mechanism 5 is an electrical connection and within this electrical connection, a control unit 1 1 sits at

Exceeding a voltage A, the electrical connection from the power generator 7 to the trigger mechanism 5 electrically conductive releases and falls below a voltage B, the electrical connection from the power generator 7 to

Triggering mechanism 9 interrupts, wherein voltage A is greater than or equal to voltage B.

8. container, characterized in that there is at least one device according to

at least one of the preceding claims and wherein the container 1 includes a dispersion comprising at least one inner phase and one outer phase.

9. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that the container has at least one valve, at least one pump or at least one output channel.

10. Container according to claim 9, characterized in that the container 1 a

Aerosol container with valve 2, a spray bottle with (trigger) pump, one

Squeeze bottle with or without riser is.

1 1. Container according to at least one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the dispersion is an emulsion or a dispersion or a mixture of at least two liquid phases and at least one solid phase (emulsion with particulate components), in particular suspension with a particulate Solid (inner phase) in a suspending agent (outer phase).

12. Container according to at least one of claims 8 to 1 1, characterized in that it is the dispersion is a mixture of at least two liquid phases and at least one solid phase (emulsion with particulate components).

13. Container according to at least one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that it is an antiperspirant spray in the dispersion.

14. A method for removing a suspension from a container 10 according to at least one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the container 1 is strongly moved, in particular shaken, wherein a power generator 7 generates electrical energy which is stored in the energy storage 6 and as soon as the energy store 6 is filled, a threshold voltage is reached, which triggers the

Locking unit 9 leads, which thereby allows the opening of the container or the operation of the spray head and thus the removal of the suspension.