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(11) | EP 1 862 426 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Apparatus for dispensing a product from a form-retaining container |
| (57) The invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing a product from a form-retaining
container filled with that product and having an outflow opening. The dispensing apparatus
comprises a frame defining a space for accommodating said container, means for supplying
a displacing medium to the container, and means for controlling the outflow of product
from the container. The displacing medium supply means may include a manually operable pump for compressing ambient air. The outflow control means may be adapted to control movement of a closure member of the container or they may include a controllable closure member themselves. |
[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing at least one product from a form-retaining container.
[0002] The dispensing apparatus of the present invention is especially adapted for use in combination with a dispensing assembly as disclosed in the co-pending patent application "Method and assembly for dispensing a product from a form-retaining container".
[0003] The dispensing assembly disclosed therein comprises a form-retaining container for receiving the product to be dispensed, which container has an outflow opening for dispensing the product. The assembly further includes means for introducing into the container a medium for displacing the product. These displacing medium introduction means include a chamber for the displacing medium that is separated from the part of the container containing the product by means of a flexible diaphragm. The outflow opening is surrounded by a neck on which a dispensing adapter may be mounted. This dispensing adapter includes a closure member for the outflow opening and a connector for connecting a source of displacing medium to a supply port leading to the chamber.
[0004] The dispensing apparatus of the invention comprises a frame defining a space for accommodating a container filled with a product and having an outflow opening, means for supplying a displacing medium to the container and means for controlling the outflow of product from the container. This dispensing apparatus allows a container to be introduced into the space where it is held in stable manner. Whenever a user wishes to dispense part of the product from the container, this may easily be done by actuating the supply means to introduce the displacing medium into the container, in order to build up sufficient pressure, and then actuating the outflow control means to free the outflow opening. When the required amount of product has been dispensed, the outflow control means are actuated to close the outflow opening again. If during dispensing the pressure drops to a point where the outflow of product through the opening is reduced, additional displacing medium may be introduced into the container by actuating the supply means again.
[0005] In a preferred embodiment, the displacing medium supply means include a pump for compressing ambient air. This allows the dispensing apparatus to be used anywhere, without the need for providing a special displacing medium.
[0006] A low-cost dispensing apparatus that is easy to use is obtained, when the pump is manually operable. In this way the apparatus does not rely on any external power source for its operation.
[0007] In a structurally simple yet effective embodiment of the dispensing apparatus the pump is a pistcn pump, having a cylinder attached to a movable operating handle and a piston attached to the frame.
[0008] When the dispensing apparatus is intended for use in combination with a container having a closure member for closing the outflow opening, the outflow control means are preferably adapted to control movement of the closure member. In that case the outflow control means advantageously include a manually operable control member engaging the closure member.
[0009] When, on the other hand, the dispensing apparatus is intended to be used with a container lacking any provision for closing the outflow opening, the outflow control means are preferable adapted to selectively close the container outflow opening. In that case, the outflow control means may include a controllable closure member.
[0010] The container may have a relatively flexible outflow conduit, in which case the outflow control means may include pinch members engaging the outflow conduit to close it.
[0011] In order to allow gravity to assist the outflow of the product from the container, the container accommodating space in the frame is preferably inclined towards the position of the outflow opening.
[0012] The invention will now be elucidated by way of two non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective front view of a first embodiment of the dispensing apparatus in accordance with the present invention;
Figures 2A and 2B are transparent perspective front views showing the dispensing apparatus of Figure 1 in a position of rest during a pump stroke, respectively;
Figure 3 is a perspective front view showing a container being inserted into the dispensing apparatus of the preceding Figures;
Figure 4 is a perspective front view of the apparatus and container in a position of rest;
Figure 5 is a view corresponding with that of Figure 4 during a pump stroke;
Figure 6 is a view corresponding with those of Figures 4 and 5 showing the container outflow opening to be opened;
Figures 7A to 7F are partially cut-away side views of the outflow control means during various stages of dispensing;
Figure 8 is a transparent side view of a second embodiment of the dispensing apparatus;
Figure 9 is a transparent perspective rear view of the dispensing apparatus of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a view corresponding to Figure 8 showing a container being inserted into the dispensing apparatus;
Figure 11 is a view corresponding with Figures 8 and 10 showing the dispensing apparatus during a pump stroke;
Figures 12A and 12B are detailed front views showing the outflow control means opening and closing the container outflow opening, respectively; and
Figure 13 is a detailed longitudinal sectional view showing the operation of the pinch members for controlling the outflow.
[0013] An apparatus 1 for dispensing a product from a form-retaining container 2 that is filled with that product and that has an outflow opening 3, comprises a frame 4 that defines a space 5 for accommodating container 2 (Fig. 1). The dispensing apparatus further includes means 6 for supplying a displacing medium to the container 2 and means 7 for controlling the outflow of product from the container 2.
[0014] In the illustrated embodiment the displacing medium supply means 6 include a manually operable pump 8 for compressing ambient air. This pump is a piston pump, having a cylinder 9 attached to a movable operating handle 10 and a piston 11 attached to the frame 4 (Fig. 2). The piston 11 is mounted on a hollow piston rod 12, which forms part of a supply line 13 running from the interior of the cylinder 9 to a connector 14. During use this connector 14 is connected to a supply port that is arranged in the neck 15 of the container 2.
[0015] This first embodiment of the dispensing apparatus 1 is intended to be used with a container 2 having a pivotable closure member 16 arranged at the end of the neck 15 for closing the outflow opening 3. Therefore, the outflow control means 7 are adapted to control movement of this closure member 16. To this end, the outflow control means 7 include a manually operable control member 17 having ridges 18 which engage a protruding edge 19 of the container closure member 16 (Fig. 7). This control member 17 is pivotable about an axis 20 that is coaxial with the pivot axis 21 of the closure member 16 when the container 2 is accommodated in the receiving space 5.
[0016] In order to prevent inadvertent operation of the control member 17, which might lead to loss of product from the container 2, the dispensing apparatus 1 further includes a locking member 22 that is movably arranged on the frame 4. The locking member 22 has a protruding leg 23, which fits through an opening 24 in the control member 17 when the locking member 22 is moved to its unlocked position (Figs. 7B to 7E), but which extends beyond a forward edge 25 of the opening 24 when the locking member 22 is in its locked position (Figs. 7A and 7F). The locking member 22 is biased to its locking position by suitable biasing means, like a spring (not shown here).
[0017] The frame 4 includes an upright part 26 for accommodating the neck 15 of the container 2, or in this case a dispensing adapter 27 arranged on the container neck 15. This upright part 26 includes the outflow control means 7 and the connector 14, which is connected to a corresponding connector 28 in the dispensing adapter 27, which in turn is connected tc the supply port for the displacing medium arranged in the container neck 15.
[0018] The operation of the dispensing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment is as follows. After the container 2 has been placed in the receiving space 5 and the dispensing adapter 27 has been received in the upright part 26 (Figs. 3 and 4), the ambient air that will serve as displacing medium is pressurized by pivoting the operating handle 10 (Fig. 5). Then the outflow opening 3 is freed by pivoting the control member 17 upward, taking the closure member 16 with it (Fig. 6). Before the control member 17 can be moved, it has to be unlocked by an opposite pivoting movement of the locking member 22 (Fig. 7B), after which the control member 17 and closure member 16 can be pivoted towards the locking member 22 and the product can be dispensed (Figs. 7C and 7D). When a sufficient amount of product has been dispensed, the closure member 16 is returned to its closed position by pivoting the control member 17 forward (Fig. 7E) and the locking member 22 is returned to its locked position by the biasing means (Fig. 7F).
[0019] In an alternative embodiment of the dispensing apparatus 1 (Fig. 8), which is intended to be used with a container 2 that does not have a dispensing adapter including a closure member, the outflow control means 7 are adapted to selectively close the outflow opening 3 of the container 2. In this embodiment the container 2 is provided with a relatively flexible neck 15. In order to close the outflow opening 3, the outflow control means 7 include upper and lower pinch members 29, 30 that are pivotally mounted on the upright portion 26 of the frame 4 and that include operating levers 31, 32. Both these pinch members 29 and 30 are substantially L-shaped in side view, and include cooperating gears 33, 34. The lower pinch member 30 is rectangular in front view and is arranged around the neck 15 of the container 2 when this is accommodated in the receiving space 5.
[0020] When one of the operating levers 31, 32 is moved, the pinch members 29, 30 move towards or away from each other due to the action of the intermeshing gears 33, 34, thus freeing the outflow opening 3 in the container neck 15 (Figs. 12A and 13) or pinching it shut (Fig. 12B).
[0021] In this embodiment the receiving space 5 is tilted towards the upright part 26, so that gravity will assist in forcing the product towards the outflow opening 3 in the container neck 15. This arrangement also allows the pump 8 to be centrally located below the receiving space 5 (Fig. 9). Consequently, the operating handle 10 is configured as a U-shaped bracket including a transverse member 35 attached to the cylinder 9.
[0022] Here again, after the container 2 has been connected to the dispensing apparatus (Fig. 10), the outflow opening 3 has to be closed before the pump 8 may be operated. This is done by moving the operating levers 31, 32 together, after which the operating handle 10 may be actuated (Fig. 11). The outflow opening 3 may be freed to start dispensing product from the container 2 by either pulling the operating lever 32 of the lower pinch member 30 forward or pushing the operating lever 31 of the upper pinch member 29 backward, thus moving the pinch members 29, 30 away from each other.
[0023] Although the invention has been illustrated by way of two exemplary embodiments, it will be clear that it is not limited thereto, but may be modified and adapted in various ways. For instance, an electrically powered compressor might be used instead of the manually operated pump for compressing the air that serves as displacing medium. Alternatively, the means for supplying displacing medium might include a canister filled with pressurized gas. It is also conceivable that these displacing medium supply means take the form of a water supply pipe including a controllable valve and arranged to be connected to the water mains. Moreover, it is not always necessary to arrange the connector for supplying the displacing medium next to the outflow control means. When the dispensing apparatus is used in combination with a container in which the supply port for the displacing medium is arranged at a different location, e.g. opposite the outflow opening, the connector may be rearranged accordingly.
1. An apparatus for dispensing at least one product from a form-retaining container filled
with said at least one product and having an outflow opening, comprising:
- a frame defining a space for accommodating said container;
- means for supplying a displacing medium to the container; and
- means for controlling the outflow of product from the container.
2. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the displacing medium supply means include a pump for compressing ambient air.
3. The dispensing apparatus of claim 2, characterized in that the pump is manually operable.
4. The dispensing apparatus of claim 3, characterized in that the pump is a piston pump, having a cylinder attached to a movable operating handle
and a piston attached to the frame.
5. The dispensing apparatus of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outflow control means are adapted to control movement of a closure member of
the container.
6. The dispensing apparatus of claim 5, characterized in that the outflow control means include a manually operable control member engaging the
container closure member.
7. The dispensing apparatus of any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the outflow control means are adapted to selectively close the outflow opening of
the container.
8. The dispensing apparatus of claim 7, characterized in that the outflow control means include a controllable closure member.
9. The dispensing apparatus of claim 7, characterized in that the outflow control means include pinch members engaging a relatively flexible outflow
conduit of the container.
10. The dispensing apparatus of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container accommodating space in the frame is inclined towards the position of
the outflow opening.