WO2021047689A1

WO2021047689A1 - Product dispensing/dosing device

Info

Publication number: WO2021047689A1
Application number: PCT/CO2020/000010
Authority: WO
Inventors: Héctor A. RIAÑO; Mariana RIAÑO
Original assignee: Riano Hector A; Riano Mariana
Priority date: 2019-09-13
Filing date: 2020-09-08
Publication date: 2021-03-18
Also published as: CO2019010006A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a product dispensing/dosing device comprising: an inlet portion (140) that can be coupled with a product package/container that may have a dosing passage (142); an outlet portion (160); a retractable duct arranged between the inlet portion (140) and the outlet portion (160); wherein the retractable duct is extendable and allows product to flow from the product package into said retractable duct.

Description

DOSING DEVICE QR - PRODUCT DISPENSER

TECHNOLOGICAL SECTOR AND FIELD OF THE INVENTION.

[0001] The invention is in the technological sector of product handling and dosing.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM - BACKGROUND - STATE OF THE ART

[0002] In different types of industries, there is a great variety of products that require a specific dosage for their purchase, distribution or consumption, and in general for the handling of product that comes in powder, in pieces, in grains, liquids or in small units

[0003] For example, in the food sector, products such as food (for example cereals), granulated food (milo, milk powder, coffee), powdered beverages, whey protein powder, powdered food supplements, mixture for smoothies etc.), medicines, any type of legume, or cereal, for its preparation, etc., or even animal feed (For example concentrated), require the use of an additional implement that allows measuring the amount necessary / required to the consumption and at the same time that it allows to serve it; such as spoons, pots, wells, etc. to which you must go for that purpose.

[0004] In sectors other than food, for example, sectors of mass consumption products such as soap or detergent in powder, fertilizers in grain, solid / granulated drugs.

[0005] Even in sectors other than those already mentioned require solutions in the dosage of product for example construction products such as construction mixes, gravel, sand, nails, screws, nuts, powders for construction mix (for example cement ).

[0006] The problem with this system is that people generally in the task of dosing any kind of product, handling involves getting dirty on the product, for example getting their hands dirty, or contaminating the product, for example contaminating the food by touching it with their hands. or other objects. [0007] Additionally, another problem consists in that traditional dosage forms require exposing the product, for example uncovering it to gain access to said product, causing an unwanted exposure of the product to the environment and what makes the product lose more quickly. Desirable properties of the product, such as its freshness and / or properties relative to humidity, for example exposure to the environment can cause the product to deteriorate and / or expire in a shorter time. In general, products can lose their desirable properties due to exposure to the environment, for example, in the case of food they can become contaminated or lose their texture. This dispenser allows to a great extent to preserve the properties of the product as it left the point of production, collection and / or distribution.

[0008] Therefore, the creation of this device responds to the need that people have to more easily serve a packaged and / or packaged product, for example food, that requires a specific dosage without getting their hands dirty, and / or without having to use other tools that imply the possible contamination of the product, by contact and opening, and / or the loss of its properties such as its freshness. The device described here makes the task of dispensing a product more comfortable, agile and simple, for example to serve food that requires a specific dosage for consumption.

[0009] Given the above problems, the device described below allows one, or a combination of:

[0010] Eliminate or considerably reduce the contact of users, or tools used by users, with the product.

[0011] Eliminate or considerably reduce the contact of the product with the environment.

[0012] Measure the precise / exact amount of product that is dispensed.

[0013] Avoid or eliminate the use of additional tools for the precise / exact measurement and dosage of a product in powder, granules, pieces or small units, required by the user.

[0014] A small and compact size compared to other dispensing and dosing solutions on the market. [0015] In the state of the art, there are a great variety of systems and means for dispensing product that are summarized below, but none of them present the characteristic benefits or advantages of the present invention:

[0016] Colombian application No. 08-15722, corresponding to a pet food dispenser actuated by an arm-spring system, and which is implemented as a pet food storage tank that consists of a plastic compartment with an obstruction incidentally, an arm-spring and a button that allows the food to be dispensed by means of a mechanical drive but differs from the present invention in that said dispenser does not dose precise portions and also requires more space and area to be located or stored. .

[0017] Colombian application No. 16-21726, corresponding to a flat food dispenser / packaging device (such as cookies and arepas), unlike the present invention, does not allow the dosage in precise quantities of powdered, granulated and / or in pieces, it is only used for solid and flat food and requires more space and area to be located.

[0018] Colombian application No. 11-39615, corresponding to a dispenser and dispenser for food and / or solid medicine for animals that is composed of a motor, rails, bearings, electronic clock and switches, implemented in a space of a furniture, which is completely different from the dispenser described in this document, since it is an electronic machine which reduces practicality and agility at the time of use.

[0019] Colombian application No. 08-94863, corresponding to a dosing and dispensing device coupled to containers that is implemented as a lid / coupling for bottles and jars that has a rotating core and a cylinder through which liquids are dispensed, which Unlike the dispenser described in this document, it has a rigid structure and does not dispense in precise amounts, since it does not have inscribed units of measure.

[0020] Colombian application No. 06-64003, corresponding to a dispenser dispenser of granular powder material applicable to water vending machines, is implemented as a furniture / cabinet that requires a lot of space compared to the present invention, requiring a greater area and more space for its location, characterized in that it has a means of valve closure, with knobs that allow the passage of food and / or liquid but, unlike the present invention, it requires the use of additional utensils with grammage or liter marks to allow exact dosing.

Unlike what exists in the state of the art, the food dispenser dispenser device described in this document does not require a large area or space for its storage, but rather it is attached to any packaging / container and does not require substantially of an extra space ai already occupied by the same packaging / container, in addition to having the grammage marked in the feed dispenser / dispenser duct, which allows a dosage in exact and precise quantities.

[0022] As evidenced in the foregoing mentioned above, no device has a retractable duct with characteristics such as the precise grammage for a punctual dosage without the need to use any other device to dose exact portions. Unlike the prior art observed, the present invention decreases contact with the environment, decreases direct handling and direct contact (for example, it reduces or eliminates contact with the hands of a user), improving the preservation of the product (For example improving food preservation). As well as the fact that it does not require additional space to be stored when not in use.

DEVICE GENERAL DESCRIPTION

[0023] To solve the technical problems and achieve the advantages set forth above, a dosing device is implemented that comprises an inlet portion coupled to a product package / container, an outlet portion and a shrinkable duct arranged between the inlet portion and the outlet portion, where the shrink duct is extensible and allows the circulation of product from the product package into said shrink duct.

[0024] The outlet portion may have outlet closing means that keep the product within the shrink duct.

[0025] The inlet portion is coupled to the product packages so that the product can circulate or flow through the shrink duct. The retractable duct has the ability to extend and contract to modify its length and / or volume, where the duct has at least two positions: a retracted position, where the outlet and inlet portions are joined, or are the closest possible, with the duct contracted; and an extended position where the outlet and inlet portion are separated with duct extended. The dispensing device may have other positions intermediate between the retracted position and the extended position.

[0026] The characteristics that make the dispensing device described in this document different from existing ios in the state of the art are mainly: the retractable duct that allows the extraction and dosage of the product in exact quantities to that suggested by ios manufacturers of the different types of product, without the need to expose them to manual contact, as well as avoiding the use of additional implements that can contaminate them and / or influence the accelerated deterioration and prompt loss of their properties, because the packaging / container, in absence of the device, it requires to remain open.

[0027] On the other hand, the expansion properties of the retractable duct at the time of use, and of retraction at the time of storage, make this device a unique tool compared to what exists in the state of the art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the dispensing device (100) in its extended position.

[0029] Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the dispensing device (100) in its extended position where the outlet portion (160) is mainly seen.

[0030] Figure 3 shows the exploded perspective view of the dispensing device (100) in its extended position where the inlet portion (140) is mainly seen.

[0031] Figure 4 shows the front view of the dispensing device (100) where the outlet portion (160) is mainly seen.

[0032] Figure 5 shows the side view! of the dispensing device (100) in its retracted position.

[0033] Figure 6 shows the perspective view of the dispensing device (100) in its retracted position.

Figure 7 shows the bottom view of the dispensing device (100) in its extended position. [0035] Figure 8 shows the side view of the dispensing device (100) in its extended position and where the dispensing quantity marks can be seen.

Figures 9A and 9B show an embodiment of the dispensing device where the following three aspects of one embodiment of the device are seen: the device attached to a pet food package in its retracted position; the device attached to a pet food package in its extended position; and the device disengaged in its extended position and with its inlet and outlet closing means open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The dosing device comprises: an inlet portion (140) coupled to a product package / container, an outlet portion (160), a retractable duct (120) arranged between the inlet portion (140) and the portion outlet (160) where the shrink duct is extensible and allows the product to circulate from the product packaging into said shrink duct. Where optionally said device has inlet closing means arranged in the inlet portion to block the entry or outlet of product and / or outlet closing means arranged in the inlet portion to block the product outlet, or to protect the product of the environment.

[0038] Said closing means, inlet and outlet, can be but are not limited to some of: snap-on cap, a screw-on cap, an access flange, metering passage, a rotatable cap, a gate, a diaphragm opening (like that of cameras), fins, (threads, grids, meshes, draperies, blinds, slides, bands, films, slats) and an airlock.

[0039] In an alternative embodiment outlet portion (160) may be sealed so as not to allow product to exit through the outlet portion. In this embodiment the product would come out through the same inlet portion.

The inlet portion (140) may have at least one inlet coupling means for coupling the inlet portion to a product package. For example the coupling means may comprise an optionally serrated or sharp conduit (141) that is nailed or inserted into the packing and / or at least one inlet fitting section (143). At least one section (143) may have adhesion / pressing / spinning / embroidery / dotting means to adhere to the packaging, for example glue, adhesives, single or double-sided adhesive tapes / pressing / spinning / embroidery / dotting or any other means of adhesion existing in the state of the art.

The inlet portion (140) may have inlet closing means, for example a metering passage (142), which partially or totally closes the flow of product to the retractable duct to modulate, allow and / or block the flow. of the product to the shrink duct. Said closing means may be user-controllable means, for example a cap optionally rotatable by means of a pivot or bolt (145), or a diaphragm aperture (like that of photographic cameras). Said closing means can comprise flaps that completely or partially close the circulation of the product and that bend to allow the product to pass through (threads, grids, meshes, curtains, blinds, sliders, bands, films, slats) and an airlock.

The inlet closing means may also be arranged to keep the product within the metering dispenser device (100) and / or prevent the product from being returned to the product packaging.

[0043] The shrink duct (120) may alternatively comprise several sections (125) to lengthen, or extend said shrink duct, and thus increase its volume and / or to contract said shrink duct and decrease its volume. Optionally, the retractable duct (120) can have marks to indicate the amount of product that is being dispensed.

[0044] The outlet portion may have outlet closure means that keep the product within the shrink duct such as a lid (161). Said cover can be arranged directly on the retractable duct (120) or through an outlet adaptation section (165) that adapts the duct to engage the cover. For example section (165) can be a terminal ring (165) that adapts the duct to receive a circular cover (161). Although the cap 161 and section 165 shown in the figures are circular, the cap 161 and section 165 may be of any shape in the implementation of the dispensing metering device.

[0045] The inlet portion may have inlet closure means that hold the product within the package or within the shrink duct such as a flange, a gate, or an airlock. Said inlet closing means may be arranged directly on the retractable duct (120) or through at least one inlet adaptation section (144; 143) that adapts the duct to engage said inlet closing means and / or to stock up ai product packaging / container. When the device is implemented without the inlet closing means the one or more inlet adaptation sections adapt the duct to fit the product package. Although the sections and / or components of the inlet portion are shown in the figures as circular in shape, said sections and / or component may be of any shape in the implementation of the dispensing device.

[0046] Alternatively, the retractable duct can be transparent, or with some degree of transparency, so that the user can observe the product inside the duct.

[0047] In one embodiment of the invention, the metering-dispensing device of (100), mechanically operated, is characterized by 5 interlocking parts, corresponding to: a toothed / tapered conduit (141), in the form of a cylinder Low height hole with no interior base that allows the insertion of the dosing-dispensing device to any food package / container; a semi-rigid adherent sheet (143) with a centered hole, of the same diameter as the toothed / sharp duct (141) and the shrink duct (120), which has glue on one of its faces, or any other means of coupling (for example to pressure or sewing among others), overcoming the toothed / sharpened conduit, working in parallel with it, since this sheet is the one that supports the device by adhering it to the packaging in a consistent way; a dosing passage (142) located between the retractable duct (120) and the semi-rigid adherent sheet (143) that allow its turning movement, once said dosing passage (142) is assembled, this opens and closes the passage through the hole of the retractable duct (120) through which the product passes when the dosing passage (142) is in the open position. At the end of the retractable duct there is a cover (161) that allows the closure of the device for greater security, ensuring the hermetic sealing of the dispenser dispenser, and also keeps it retracted for greater comfort when storing.

[0048] Optionally the retractable duct (120) can have one, or a combination, of the following characteristics: hollowed cylindrical shape; thin gauge; transparent; and the printed quantity numbering. When the retractable duct (120) is cylindrical in shape, the outlet portion cap (160) can be circular to fit and maintain the cylindrical shape of the dispensing device.

[0049] Although the figures show the retractable duct (120) composed of circular sections (125), said sections can be of any shape. Even the shrink duct can take any shape and configuration that allows it to lengthen and / or increase its volume, for example a spiral section, rings, telescopic sections, an expandable tube or a fluted body. [0050] In an alternative embodiment of the invention the dispensing device (100) is part of the product packaging.

[0051] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the dispensing device (100) is part of the packaging of the product. Optionally, the dosing dispensing device (100) when it is part of the product packaging, the dosing dispensing device is or is part of the lid of said packaging or container.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the metering dispensing device (100) is a feeding metering dispensing device, and optionally it may more particularly be a feeding metering dispenser for animals.

[0053] The retractable duct (120) has an opening position where the cover that covers it is stretched and a closing position where the cover that covers it is compacted / screwed / pressed, the retractable duct (120) expands for the correct dosage and dispensing of the product, and at the time of storage said retractable duct (120) is retracted, putting it in the closed position.

[0054] The metering device when it includes inlet closing means in the inlet portion (140) has during its operation two positions corresponding to an initial position and an end position. The initial position corresponds to that in which the inlet closing means, for example a dosing passage (142) or a gate, leaves the passage of the product completely free through the orifice (of the retractable duct (120), from the Inside of the packaging / container inside the retractic duct, and the final position corresponds to that in which the inlet closing means totally obstruct the passage of the product in the aforementioned sense.

[0055] When the dispensing device is used to dispense food, the retractable duct (120) can have the numbering of the dosed quantity printed, for example grammage, weight and / or volume, according to prior specific study of each type of product that by the various volume-weight characteristics requires it.

[0056] Once the device is located in the packaging, the first step is to open the dosing passage (142), then the shrink duct (120) is expanded to the required quantity mark, so that the quantity of desired product passes into the shrink duct (120), once the product reaches the desired grammage point, the dosing passage (142) is closed so that only the exact portion of product is dispensed, in this now the lid should be opened! shrink duct (161) so that the desired product portion comes out of the shrink duct (120) and finally, once it is empty, the lid (161) is closed again and the shrink duct (120) contracts to its initial position .

[0057] To dose product, the dispensing device (100) is coupled, or failing that, it is coupled to a product packaging allowing the circulation of the product towards the shrink duct (120) through the inlet portion ( 140) that opens to give way to the product through the duct (120) to later be dispensed through the outlet portion (160). The retractable duct (120) allows the user, in a first step, to lengthen the device as far as the user requires, according to the amount of product to be dosed / dispensed so that the device increases its volume, allowing the passage of product within said shrink duct (120), the product within the dispensing metering device (100) being the product that is being dispensed / dosed. The amount of product dispensed / dosed can be proportional to the length of the shrink duct (120).

[0058] The dispensed product can be removed from the dispensing device (100) through the outlet portion (160), or alternatively by uncoupling the dispensing device (100) from the packaging and removing the dispensed product from the dispensing device (100) through the inlet portion (140). In the embodiment when the outlet portion is sealed, the dispensed product must be taken out of the dispensing device (100) by uncoupling it from the packaging and taking the product out through the inlet portion (140).

[0059] Alternatively, in a second step, the user can contract the device to cause the product that is contained in the shrink duct (120) to exit through the outlet portion (160), where the product dispensed / dosed It is the product that comes out through the outlet portion (160).

[0060] In an alternative embodiment, the dispensing device (100) when it has the dispensed / dosed product within it, only disengages from the package serving as a new package of the dispensed / dispensed product.

[0061] In an alternative embodiment of the method for dosing product by means of a dosing dispensing device (100) comprising a dosing passage (142) or inlet closing means, a retractable duct (120), the method comprises the steps of: in case the device is not part of a package / container, locate and couple the dispensing device in the package / container; opening the metering passage (142) or inlet closing means; expand the pipeline retractable (120); circulate the product to the retractable duel (120); and closing the metering passage (142).

[0062] In another alternative embodiment of the method for dosing product, the dosing dispensing device (100) additionally comprises outlet closing means and additionally after closing the dosing passage (142) the steps of: opening the closing means of the exit; and circulating the product through the outlet closure means out of the metering dispensing device (100).

[0063] In another alternative embodiment of the method for dosing product in accordance additionally after closing the dosing passage (142) the step of uncoupling the dispensing dosing device (100) is executed.

[0064] In another alternative embodiment of the method for dosing product, the metering dispenser (100) has one or more quantity marks, the step of expanding the shrink duct (120) comprises expanding the shrink duct (120) to one of the marks quantity and the step of circulating the product towards the retractable duct (120) comprises circulating the product until it reaches or fills the duct up to one of the quantity markings.

[0065] In another alternative embodiment of the method for dosing product the dosing dispenser (100) is fully retracted for storage.

Note that two or more of all the variations described in this document can be combined to obtain other ways of carrying out the invention.

[0067] The present invention can take several specific forms by making modifications to the material described in this description without departing from the inventive essence of the present invention. For this reason the modalities described in this description should be taken as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims of the application and not by the restrictions described in this description.

Claims

A metering dispensing device (100) comprising: an inlet portion (140) attachable to a product package / container; an outlet portion (160); a retractable duct (120) disposed between the inlet portion (140) and the outlet portion

(160); wherein the inlet portion (140) comprises a metering passage (142) and / or inlet closure means; where e! retractable duct (120) is extendable and allows product circulation of! product packaging into said shrink duct.

The metering dispensing device (100) of claim 1 wherein the metering passage (142) and / or inlet closure means comprise one or a combination of: snap-on cap, a screw-on cap, a access, a revolving lid, a gate, a diaphragm opening, fins, threads, louvers, screens, draperies, blinds, slides, bands, films, slats and / or an airlock ..

The metering dispensing device (100) of claim 1 or 2 further comprising outlet closure means arranged in the outlet portion to block the outlet of product or to protect the product from the environment.

The metering dispensing device (100) of claim 1 or 2 wherein the outlet portion is sealed.

5. The metering dispensing device (100) according to any of the preceding claims wherein the inlet portion (140) comprises at least one inlet coupling means for coupling the inlet portion to a product package / container.

6. The dosing dispensing device (100) according to any of the preceding claims wherein the dispensing device is coupled and is part of the product packaging or product container.

7. The dosing dispensing device (100) according to claim 6 wherein the dispensing device (100) is part or corresponds to the lid of the product package or product container.

8. Method for dosing product by means of a dosing dispensing device (100) comprising a dosing passage (142) or inlet closing means, a retractable duct (120), wherein the method comprises the steps of: in case the device is not part of a package / container, locate and couple the dispensing device in the package / container; opening the metering passage (142) or inlet closing means; expanding the shrink duct (120); circulate the product towards the shrink duct (120); and closing the metering passage (142).

9. Method for dosing product according to claim 8 wherein the dosing dispensing device (100) additionally comprises outlet closing means and where additionally after closing the dosing passage (142) the steps of: opening the means of exit closure; and circulating the product through the outlet closure means out of the metering dispensing device (100).

10. Method for dosing product according to any one of claims 8 to 9 wherein: the dosing dispenser (100) has one or more quantity markings; the step of expanding the shrink duct (120) comprises expanding the shrink duct (120) to one of the quantity markings; and the step of circulating the product towards the retractable duct (120) comprises circulating the product until it reaches or fills the duct up to one of the quantity markings.