Refillable container for a liquid product, console device and refill device

Abstract

A refillable container (200) for a liquid product contains a product space (210) enclosed by a wall (240) which extends between a bottom (204,400) and a roof (202) of the product space. On the roof side, dispensing devices (225) are provided for evacuating and dispensing a quantity of liquid from the product space (210). A leak-proof filling opening (410) is provided in the bottom for connection to a refilling device (500) with which the liquid can be introduced into the product space. The bottom (400) also contains venting devices (420) which prevent atmospheric overpressure in the container.

Description

The present invention relates to a refillable container for a liquid product, comprising a product space bounded by a wall which is extends between a floor and a roof of the production space, where on the roof side Discharge means are provided for the evacuation and discharge from the product area of a quantity of liquid. The invention also relates to a console device for holding such a refillable container as well as on a refilling device for the at least partial filling of such a refillable container comprising a number of filling positions for holding a refillable container of one or more refillable containers at a time, at least one stock position for holding a stock holder each time with a product stock, a filling nozzle for connection to the filling opening of a container and a filling line to the filling nozzle. Refillable containers are becoming more and more prescribed from the point of view of environmental conservation instead of disposable containers that end up in a waste chain after use come. This plays a particularly important role in hotels and other lodging establishments. Was it formerly It is common that in a hotel room, from a certain level, miniature holders with various cosmetic products were present in a bathroom; nowadays legislation increasingly imposes a ban on hotels on such commonly disposable plastic packaging. Instead, it should be provided in a holder from which it can be used multiple times and by successive guests put. Preferably, a refillable container is chosen for this purpose, as mentioned in the introduction. described. The dispensing devices usually comprise a screw cap or hand pump on an outflow opening of the product space, which allows product out of the product space is reduced. However, to refill the container, it must be at the known holder to be removed to unlock the product space before product in the product area can be refilled. _2_ An obstacle that presents itself in this regard is that, in that case, a domestic service will be responsible for maintaining the fill level of these containers and monitoring an expiration date of a included therein product. Particularly in the case of refillable containers, this may involve fractions of different ages, resulting in cumbersome and time-consuming administration cannot be escaped. [The invention is intended, inter alia, to provide a refillable container] with which one or more of these and other objections, at least to a significant extent, can be accommodated. To that end, a refillable container of the type described in the introduction has for the holding of a liquid according to the present invention as a characteristic that in the A leak-proof filling opening is provided on the bottom for connection to a refill device. with which the liquid can be introduced into the production area, and that the bottom includes venting devices that counteract atmospheric overpressure in the container. Thus, the container can be refilled from the bottom without disturbing the dispensing agents. need to be removed. The leak-proof filling opening provides a refill option for connection to a refill device designed for that purpose, while the venting agents prevent overpressure in the container if the liquid in the The product space flows and displaces the air present therein. In doing so, the invention based on the insight that because both the filling opening and the venting devices are provided in or near the bottom of the product container, both of these fully operational may be if the product holder is in an upside-down orientation filled. From a logistical and manufacturing point of view, a preferred design of the holder according to the invention as a characteristic that the bottom of the product space is formed at least in part by an independent soil body that the seals the product space leak-tight on a bottom side facing away from the roof, which _3_ the bottom body comprises the filling opening and the venting devices. Thus provides a independent base body in the adjustments required to the holder for to prepare the refill in the manner indicated by the invention. For the otherwise the holder requires no adjustment or modification, while the soil body the product space on the bottom side seals seamlessly and leak-free. The bottom body can are glued to the wall of the holder, for example, or are attached to it fused. To not only simplify the process of refilling the container, but simultaneously thereafter also has to keep records a further preferred form of execution of the holder according to the invention as a characteristic that it a soil body includes an electronically readable identification device that the holder identifies and in particular uniquely identifies. The holder may, together with other holders are identifiable, for example, by product type, whereby a controlled automatic refilling is possible for this product type. Preferably, however, the holder wears a unique identification with which every holder is individually identifiable, which identification can be read electronically. This identification can, for example, be linked to a in a database refill history and expiration dates to ensure the integrity of the information contained therein and to ensure any product that has been refilled multiple times. By the identification in or to be provided on the bedrock, the holder is otherwise not required to do so. neither adaptation nor provision. A special form of execution of the holder is in this regard. characterized under the invention by the fact that the means of identification is contactless includes a queryable identification chip or an optically readable code. [The leak-proof filling opening of the Vlet is intended, on the one hand, to provide a porte d'entrée whereby the liquid can be introduced into the production area and on the other hand, a seal so that liquid will not escape via the same route. the special design of the refillable container has in that respect, according to the invention characterized by the fact that the filling opening comprises a valve device that a _4_ allows liquid flow into the product container but in the opposite direction direction blocks, and more specifically that the valve element a flexible diaphragm or spring-loaded valve body that encloses it leak-free in the opposite direction rests on a seat surrounding a passage opening. In a further preferred form of execution, the holder has, according to the invention, as characteristic that the venting devices have a flexible membrane or a spring-loaded comprise the valve body, which rests leak-free on a seat under preload. around a ventilation opening and upon victory of the prestress the releases the ventilation opening. The venting devices thus close the ventilation opening. usually due to premature spoilage and / or intrusion into the product space by preventing microorganisms or other contamination. When filling the however, the diaphragm or valve body will be lifted from the seat so that air can escape and an atmospheric overpressure is created in the production area contested Although the delivery media can simply be formed by a outlet opening in the roof of the production room, closable with a screw cap, has a special design of the holder according to the invention as a characteristic that the delivery means comprise a dosing device with which a dosed amount of the liquid from the product space is released and discharged, and more in particular that the dosing device comprises a hand pump device with an outlet which is connected to the production area by means of a room, in which chamber a manually activatable and spring-loaded piston body is common to in a first pass a dose of the product from the production chamber into the pump chamber take and in the opposite course the dose at least mainly at the run-out to eject. Thus, the same dosed amount of the is ejected each time product delivered. Not only does this increase ease of use for the user; also consumption from the container can thus be determined more accurately on the basis of the number of doses administered. By recording this number, a total is obtained _5_ Consumption from the container is known and a timely refill action can be initiated based on this. set up and executed. To indicate the current fill level of the container, a further special embodiment of the holder according to the invention as a characteristic that the wall in a wall segment adjacent to the floor at least one transparent window includes. As long as there is still an adequate stock of the product in the production area is present, the product will be visible through this window. Once past a minimum The position against which a refill action must be carried out, or at least prepared, is this recognizable by the absence of the product behind the window. This can be determined not only visually, but also electronically via optical road be detected. To this end, a further special embodiment of the holder according to the invention as a feature that the wall segment is a first transparent window and a second transparent window encompasses those on an optical axis are located on opposite sides of the production area. For example, by a light source or a light sensor respectively, which on the optical axis on the opposite side sides working together are linked, thus seeing each other at the moment that both windows are optically transparent. Through an adequate tuning of the wavelength of the light on an adequate absorption thereof by the product can thus a passage a fill level beyond the window is fully electronically detected. For such or other electronic detection of the fill level in the product space the present invention also offers a console device for the holding at least one refillable container in accordance with the invention. These The console device is characterized according to the invention by the fact that for each holder there is a holder space is provided in which the holder is appropriately recognizable, that electronic detector devices are provided to hold a filling of a therein for each holder space to determine the recorded holder, and that indicator means are provided which with the detector devices are linked to, in the event of a drop in a product level in the to provide an indication of product space below a predetermined minimum. Thus, the console configuration provides support for not only one or more holders, but the console configuration also offers monitoring per holder space of a product level of the holder included therein. In the event of a shortfall of a a predetermined minimum will give a signal that the relevant holder needs to be refilled. Incidentally, it should be noted that where in the present The application refers to refilling or topping up, unless explicitly stated otherwise. is stated or is clear, referring to the same action or group of actions intended and not merely a supplementation of the product in the product space is understood to mean but also a complete or partial replacement of the product in the product space The indicator means for determining the fill level of a container can be from be of a diverse nature. In that respect, a special embodiment of the console device according to the invention as characterized by the indicator means include at least one light source, in particular at least one light-emitting diode, and that the indication comprises a visually perceptible light signal that is transmitted by the at least a light source is emitted. This includes an indication of a desired refill action on the console device visually directly perceptible by the subsequent lighting up or discoloration of the light source in question, in particular LED. Particularly in the event that a large number of console devices need to operate jointly be overseen and monitored, has a further special implementation of console device according to the invention as characterized that the indicator means a include telecommunications device for wirelessly issuing the indication to a remote receiving device, in particular at a computer setup via an at least partially wireless telecommunication network. In that In this case, the signals from the individual console devices can be centralized. received and processed, so that timely appropriate action can be taken on a console setup undertakings in which a product in one or more of the containers is subject to a minimum product level (threatens) to drop. _7_ The detector means to measure the fill level of a container can be of various types. are and are preferably provided individually for each container space. The special design of the console arrangement is characterized in this context by that the detector devices comprise a pressure-sensitive sensor on which the holder at supports placement in the holder space. The pressure-sensitive sensor provides a signal corresponding to a force experienced as a result. In the In particular, this involves an electronic strain gauge that emits a signal that is proportional to the pressure experienced. If the holder leans freely on it, does this provide an indication of the current weight and thus the fill level of the relevant holder. Instead of such a proportional signal, a pressure-sensitive sensor can also be used. are applied from which a pulse signal is obtained or derived. Except for a such a strain gauge or other analog weight sensor lends itself to this, for example. also a pulse switch or pulse contact as a pressure-sensitive sensor. A further special The design of the console device is characterized in that the holder a hand pump device comprises with an outlet which is by the intervention of a chamber connected to the production area, in which room a manually activatable and spring-loaded piston body commonly in a first pass a dose of the product to drive out of the chamber and at least mainly to throw out at the outlet and in an opposite course a subsequent dose of the product into the room assume that the pressure-sensitive sensor has an electronic processing device connected and emits a signal thereto upon touching the hand pump device of the container in the container space, that the processing device an arithmetic adder includes that counts every received signal and upon exceeding a predetermined number of indicator tools activates. In this embodiment, the number of pulse signals that are summed corresponds and maintained with a corresponding number of doses obtained from the product holder. With this, the quantity of product consumed is known and can be calculated. _g_ how much will still be present in the product container. Based on that, it can be determined at the If a predetermined minimum is exceeded, a refill action will be initiated. In addition to mechanical detectors, optical detectors are also suitable for to be applied for determining the fill level of a product container that in a holder space has been included. To this end, a special design of the console device according to the invention as characterized that the holder in an to the floor-adjacent wall segment a first transparent window and a second transparent window comprises those on an optical axis on opposite sides of the are located in the product area, and that the detector means a light source and an optical sensor comprising those on either side of the holder opposite each other on the optical axis are oriented towards each other. The light source and detector are thus coupled to each other. By a alignment of a wavelength or spectrum of the light source with an optical absorption profile of the product held in the product space, the product for the light from the light source must be at least sufficiently opaque. As soon as it If the level of the product drops below the level of the windows, however, a signal will be given. be detected by the optical detector as an indication that a refill action has been performed indicated. For an electrical power supply of electronic components in the console arrangement use can be made of a rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery or accumulator, or of a fixed power source drawn from a local power grid. However, the special design of the console arrangement is characterized by the fact that the holder includes an electronic power source. A preferred design of the The console arrangement is characterized in that the bottom of the holder is at least to part is formed by an independent soil body that the product space of the holder seals leak-tight, and that the base body encloses the electronic power source. Thus is the power source, in particular in the form of a rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery, removable and replaceable together with the holder. By electric _9_ Mutual contacts can therefore also occur outside the holder, in particular. The electronic components located in the console device are powered. In that case, the console setup requires little to no aftercare because the power source together with the holder can be replaced or refilled, i.e. charged. By starting from an independent soil body in which the nutrient source is included, the holder requires little to no adjustment. [Pay attention to correct positioning and fixation of the holder in the holder space] has a further special design of the console arrangement according to the invention as a characteristic that the container and the container space are at or near the bottom of the holder mutually cooperating connecting means comprise, in particular a bayonet lock, for fixing the holder in the holder housing. In particular, the invention offers an environmentally friendly system for keeping and supplying liquid products, in particular cosmetic products in a hotel environment, care home, barracks, hospital or similar accommodation for guests, in which holders with products are distributed across a (large) number of rooms and must be monitored and refilled if necessary. The containers to be refilled can are collected manually and may or may not be continued at the same location processed to subsequently, in a refilled state, whether or not in the same (bath)room be put back in place. For refilling the holders selected for this purpose, thereby making advantageous use of a wholly or partially automated processing environment. The invention offers such a processing environment in the form of a special Practical and reliable refill device for refilling a refillable container as described above. To this end, a refill device of the in the heading described kind according to the invention as a characteristic that each of the stock holders carry an electronically readable product identification, which in or near the stock position an electronic detector is provided which is capable and configured is to read the product identification of one held in the stock position stock keeper, that each of the filling positions is equipped with an electronic detector which is capable and configured to read the holder identification of a in the filling position held holder, that the filling nozzle exits from a robot, and that a A control device is provided that directs the robot to the filling nozzle only to direct to a filling position where a holder is present for one with the product identification of corresponding product. The invention will be explained in further detail below by means of a execution example and an accompanying drawing. The drawing shows: Figure 1 a first implementation example of a console configuration according to the invention; Figure 2 shows an example of the execution of a soil body as applied in the bottle of figure 3; Figure 3 shows an example of a bottle for use in the console. layout of figure 1; and Figure 4 shows an example of the implementation of a refill device for the bottle of figure 3. Incidentally, it should be noted that the figures are purely schematic and not always based on (the same) scale have been drawn. In particular, for the sake of clarity, some dimensions are shown to a greater or lesser extent in an exaggerated manner. Corresponding parts are indicated in the figures with the same reference number. Figure 1 shows an example of an implementation of a console configuration in which one or more refillable containers 200 can be held according to the invention. In this For example, it concerns a maximum of three such holders, each holding a 200 bottle. comprise with an internal product space 210 in which stock is held of liquid body care product, such as a shampoo, hair conditioner, shower gel or body lotion. Such body care products are offered particularly to guests in hotel accommodations and other temporary stays as part of a thereby _11_ intended level of service and hospitality. Previously, such liquids were offered primarily in single-use, mostly plastic packaging, nowadays are such allegedly environmentally harmful packaging by regulations in increasingly banned. This creates a call for refillable containers for which the present invention seeks to provide a solution. In this example, the console arrangement includes a 100 shelf for which, essentially, each desired material can be used, ranging from metal or plastic to the in this Example of applied wood. In it, there is a holder space of 200 for each of the holders. arranged in the form of a floor 150 in which a bottom part of the holder 200 is received appropriately. In order to be able to maintain a fill level of 200 for each container to monitor, 150 electronic detector devices are provided per floor that a register the filling of holder 200 included in the relevant floor 150. In this example, the holders 200 each contain a bottle with between a roof 202 and a bottom 204 thereof, see also figure 4, one bounded by a perimeter wall 240 product space 210 for the relevant product. Roof side 202 encloses the holder. delivery devices in the form of a standard dosing device, comprising a hand pump device 220 with an outlet 222. This allows for a dosed, pre-dosed a certain quantity of the product in question is taken by manually to push button 225 on the pumping device and the product at the outlet to accommodate 222. Push button 225 activates a spring-loaded piston body inside the dosing device whereby a provided by a chamber of the dosing device The volume of the product is ejected. The spring load provides sufficient resilience to return the piston body to its position upon release of push button 225 to restore the original position and thereby fill the room with the next one dose of the product that is extracted from a product space 210 of the bottle 200 sucked up and ingested. An electronic pressure sensor 175 is provided in the floor of each storey 150. At every touching of the push button 225 of the pumping agents 220 of the thereon _12_ placed bottle 200 this is registered by the pressure sensor 175 which thereof a emits a signal. The pressure sensor can, for example, be formed by a spring contact that emits a switching pulse or by more advanced means such as a strain gauge or reed switch. An electronic power source for the sensors 175 is provided by a battery integrated into the tray, whether rechargeable or not. 120. Alternatively, a fixed mains power supply can also be provided. in the form of a connection to a locally available electricity grid. The here The version shown, however, has the advantage of being independent of the mains power. The power source 120 also powers an arithmetic processor device 130, with which The sensors are connected. This device 130 includes, among other things, an arithmetic counter with which the signals from each of the sensors are added up to 175 that at successive stirrings of the vial monitored thereby are released. The product of this sum and the volume of each dose of liquid that was withdrawn, provides a reliable indication of the remaining fill level of the container 200. At an exceeding of a predetermined value of this sum, corresponding with a drop in the fill level below a predetermined value, the processor returns An alarm sounds on indicator materials to signal that the bottle needs to be refilled. In this example, these indicator means comprise a light source 140, more specifically in the shape of a light-emitting diode, under the relevant vial 200 that lights up or discolors, so that a domestic service can check this during the next visit observes. Instead of the LEDs or additionally, the indicator means may also have telecommunications device 145 comprise with which a signal to a remote located surveillance device (server) is issued. This concerns in the specifically a transmitter for wireless signal transmission based on a common protocol such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and preferably a technology with a low power consumption (LPWA), such as LoRa, to save the power supply 120. _13_ Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a console arrangement according to the invention which is broadly similar to that of Figure 1, but in which other detector devices have been used. Identical parts are therefore with the same reference figure indicated. In this embodiment, the detector devices comprise a light source 180 in conjunction with an optical sensor 185 which on a is directed towards each other along a common optical axis. On that same optical axis does the bottle 200 near a bottom part on either side a window 230, as in Figure 4 is shown for illustration. As long as a level of the product in the product space 210 is located above this window 230, the product will the light of the air source 180 at least mainly absorb and thereby for sensor 185 shield. However, as soon as the level drops below this level, the light is no longer stopped by the product and detected by sensor 185. This is considered signal emitted to processor device 130, which then on the aforementioned will react in the described manner. For products that are naturally completely transparent, if the first implementation example of the console configuration can be applied, then however, an effective pigment can be added to it in order to nevertheless with this to be compatible with the second embodiment. [With a view to the intended refillability of the container 200, the container 200 comprises the bottom part thereof a leak-proof filling opening for connection to a hereinafter to discuss refilling device. To this end, a separate bottom body is advantageously provided. 400 applied, for example of the type as shown in Figure 2. This base body 400 is received seamlessly and fittingly within a wall 240 of the holder, the wall of which encloses the product space 210, and is secured therein in a leak-tight manner. The 400 base body offers an intelligent insert base that, by means of of a suitable bond or weld, leak-tight within a standard bottle or other holder can be applied, preferably by ultrasonic or laser welding. In this bottom body 400 is provided with the filling opening 410 in which a valve device in the form of a flexible membrane 415 which keeps the opening 410 leak-tight during normal use but an injector nozzle 540 of a refill device 500, see figure 5, into the _14_ product space 210 allows refilling of product space 210 via the bottom 204 to make possible. The soil body also comprises 400 aeration devices in the form of a ventilation duct 420, which is closed by a spring-loaded valve body 425. When the container 200 is refilled via the filling opening 410, the amount contained therein is atmospheric air displaced, which could cause an unwanted overpressure arise which hinders further filling and leads to damage or leakage of the container could lead. The venting agents 420,425 prevent this because in that in the event that the valve body is lifted out of its seat against the spring pressure and the ventilation duct 420 is released. The holder 200 can therefore be safely be filled or topped up for overload with a relatively high filling pressure. Such a spring-loaded valve body can, if desired, also be installed in the filler opening 410 as valve element be used and conversely the venting channel 420 can also be used by a flexible membrane is sealed that only opens at a certain (over)pressure. For electronic identification of the holder 200, it is in or on the soil body. 400 an electronically readable identification device affixed that uniquely identifies the holder identifies. In this case, the means of identification comprises an electronically queryable chip 430 with non-volatile read memory in which a unique identification code was programmed. Instead, a reprogrammable memory can also be used. are used or an optically readable code, such as a barcode or a QR code. Preferably, as is the case here, a contactless readable holder identification is used. assumed. In this case, the 430 chip comprises an RFID chip for this purpose. An electronic power source 440 can also be found in the soil body 400. housed, such as a rechargeable battery. This allows any electronic consumers in the soil body are powered, but can also the detector devices in the console arrangement 100 via to the soil body 400 for that purpose to be provided contacts 442,444 are provided with an adequate power supply which in that case makes a separate power source in the console arrangement unnecessary. For _15_ an adequate closure and positioning of the holder in the holder space 150 of the console arrangement 100, are mutually cooperating between both connecting means provided, such as in this example an unspecified, bayonet groove in the inner wall of the holder space 150 and one fitting therein receptive wing 450 to base body 400. If desired, between them locking devices are provided that prevent the unlawful removal of the holder 200 from the thwart holder space 150. Figure 5 schematically shows a refill device 500 with which a container 200 can be refilled after a fill level thereof falls below a predetermined level dropped. The refilling device comprises a 510 rack containing a number of stock positions. 511, 512 in which a stock container 520 can be placed each time. The stock holders 520 each carry an electronically readable identification 525 with which product information of the product contained therein is released. For the identification 525 can be assumed to be based on the same or similar means as for the 200 vials are used. The identification 525 is readable per stock position. by means of a detector 530 provided there. The refill device 500 also offers a magazine 550 with a matrix of separate filling positions 555 each containing a completely or partially empty container 200 can be placed upside down. The holders are thus with their bottom 400 directly accessible to a filling nozzle 540 of the refilling device. The filling nozzle 540 is based on a robot 545 and is therefore manipulable in three dimensions to be able to reach every filling position 555. At every filling position 55 there is a detector 560 applied whereby the presence or absence of a holder 200 can be determined detected and the holder identification 430 can be read. The filling nozzle 540 is connected to one or more filling lines 570 that the filling nozzle with connect one or more stock holders 520. An unspecified item control device monitors a correspondence between the product information of the stock holder 520, which was obtained from his detector 530, with the _16_ product information of the 200 bottle, with detector 560 at filling position 555 was read out. The 200 holders can therefore be placed randomly in the 550 magazine be placed; the robot 545 will only direct the filling line 570 and filling nozzle 540 to the direct filling positions 555 into which a corresponding product is to be filled. In addition, similar detector devices are located in the warehouse provided as well were accommodated in the console arrangement to a filling level of to monitor the container 200 in the filling device 500. Upon reaching a maximum in the filling position, the device switches off a pump to the filling nozzle 540, after which one or more Successive 200-piece containers can be refilled with the same or a different product. Although the invention for this purpose on the basis of merely a few examples of execution was further explained, it should be clear that the invention is by no means intended for that purpose limited. On the contrary, within the framework of the invention, for an average craftsman, many variations and forms are still possible. _17_

Claims

1. Refillable container for a liquid product, comprising a wall bounded product space extending between a base and a roof of the product space, where roof-side discharge devices are provided for one from the evacuate product space and discharge a quantity of liquid, with the characteristic that a leak-proof filling opening is provided in the bottom for connection to a refill device with which the liquid can be introduced into the product room, and that the soil aerators include those that create atmospheric overpressure in the container counteract 2. Refillable container within the meaning of claim 1, characterized in that the bottom of the product area is formed at least in part by an independent soil body that seals the production area leak-tight on a bottom side facing away from the roof, which The bottom body comprises the filling opening and the venting devices.

3. Refillable container in accordance with claim 2, characterized by the base body includes an electronically readable means of identification that identifies the holder and in identifies it as particularly unique.

4. Refillable container within the meaning of claim 3, characterized in that it identification device comprises a contactless queryable identification chip or an optical readable code.

5. Refillable container in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, with the characteristic that the filler opening comprises a valve element that directs a fluid flow to allows within the product holder but blocks in the opposite direction.

6. Refillable container within the meaning of claim 5, characterized by the valve element a flexible diaphragm or spring-loaded valve body comprises that in the opposite direction rests leak-free on a seat surrounding a passage opening.

7. Refillable container in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, with the characteristic that the venting devices have a flexible membrane or a spring-loaded comprise the valve body, which rests leak-free on a seat under preload. around a ventilation opening and upon victory of the prestress the releases ventilation opening.

8. Refillable container in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, with the characteristic that the delivery means comprise a dosing device with which a A dosed amount of the liquid is released from the product area and issued.

9. Refillable container in accordance with claim 8, characterized by the dosing device a hand pump device comprises with an outlet which is by means of a chamber connected to the production area, in which room a manually activatable and spring-loaded piston body is common to apply a dose of the product in a first pass to take from the production room into the pump room and into an opposite corridor to discharge the dose, at least primarily, at the outlet.

10. Refillable container in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, with the characteristic that the wall in a wall segment adjacent to the bottom has at least one includes transparent window.

11. Refillable container within the meaning of claim 10, characterized by the wall segment a first transparent window and a second transparent window encloses those on a optical axes are situated on opposite sides of the production area.

12. Console device for holding at least one refillable container in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, bearing the mark that for each holder a holder space is provided in which the holder can be appropriately received, that Electronic detector devices are designed to provide a filling of a per holder space to determine the holder included therein, and that indicator means are provided which with _19_ The detector devices are linked to, in the event of a drop in a product level in the product space below a predetermined minimum to provide an indication thereof.

13. Console arrangement within the meaning of claim 12, characterized in that the indicator means comprise at least one light source, in particular at least one light-emitting diode, and that the indication is a visually perceptible light signal includes that which is emitted by at least one light source.

14. Console arrangement within the meaning of claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the indicator means include a telecommunications device for wireless issuing the indication to a remote receiving device, in the specific to a computer system via at least partially wireless telecommunications network.

15. Console arrangement within the meaning of claim 12, 13 or 14, characterized in that the detector means comprise a pressure-sensitive sensor on which the holder upon placement rests in the holder space.

16. Console device within the meaning of claim 15, characterized in that the holder a hand pump device comprises with an outlet which is by the intervention of a chamber connected to the production area, in which room a manually activatable and spring-loaded piston body commonly in a first pass a dose of the product to drive out of the chamber and at least mainly to throw out at the outlet and in an opposite course a subsequent dose of the product into the room assume that the pressure-sensitive sensor has an electronic processing device connected and emits a signal thereto upon touching the hand pump device of the container in the container space, that the processing device an arithmetic adder includes that counts every received signal and upon exceeding a predetermined number of indicator tools activates. _20_ 17. Console arrangement in accordance with one or more of claims 12 to 16, with the characteristic that the holder in a wall segment adjacent to the bottom a first transparent window and a second transparent window encompasses those on an optical axis are situated on opposite sides of the production area, and that the detector devices a light source and an optical sensor comprise those on either side of the holder opposite each other on the optical axis, directed towards each other.

18. Console arrangement in accordance with one or more of claims 12 to 17, with the characteristic that the holder includes an electronic power source.

19. Console arrangement within the meaning of claim 18, characterized in that the bottom of the holder is formed at least in part by an independent soil body that the product space of the holder seals leak-tight, and that the base body the includes electronic power supply.

20. Console arrangement in accordance with one or more of Claims 12 to 19, with the characteristic that the holder and the holder space are at or near the bottom of the holder mutually cooperating means of communication include, in particular a bayonet lock, for fixing the holder in the holder housing.

21. Refilling device for at least partially filling a refillable container according to one or more of claims 1 to 11, comprising a number filling positions for holding a refillable container of one or more each refillable containers, at least one stock position for holding a each stock container with a product stock, a filling nozzle for connection to the filling opening of a container and a filling line to the filling nozzle, characterized by the fact that each of the stock holders bears an electronically readable product identification, which in or near the stock position an electronic detector is provided that is capable of and is configured to read the product identification from a stock position held stock keeper, that each of the filling positions is provided with a electronic detector capable and configured to read the holder identification _21_ of a holder held in the filling position, that the filling nozzle originates from a robot, and that a control device is provided that controls the robot to the filling nozzle only to direct to one or more filling positions in which a holder is present for a with the product identification corresponding product. 1 / 3 225 225 225 222 222 222 220 220 220 200 200 200 202 210 210 210 150 150 150 120 175 145 130 175 175 140 140 140 Fig.1 240 240 430 425 450 450 444 400 442 440 420 410 Fig. 2 2 / 3 225 225 225 222 222 222 220 220 220 200 200 200 210 210 210 185 185 185 180 180 180 120 145 130 140 140 140 Fig.3 225 220 202 210 230 Fig.4 204 3 / 3 500 570 520 530 525 545 512 430 430 430 400 400 540 555 520 560 530 560 550 525 200 511 Fig.5

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