Dispenser for liquids

Abstract

The invention relates to a dispenser (10) for dispensing a liquid, comprising a liquid reservoir (40) and an outlet opening (14) for discharging the liquid. The liquid reservoir is designed in such a way that the internal volume thereof becomes smaller during the discharge of the liquid. In order to obtain the filling level of the liquid reservoir, it is proposed that the dispenser (10) has two housing sections (50, 52), the distance between which varies during a reduction of the internal volume of the liquid reservoir (40). The dispenser has a distance sensor assembly (90) for detecting the distance of the housing sections (50, 52).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing liquids, in particular for dispensing pharmaceutical and cosmetic liquids. Background Art

[0002] Such a dispenser of this type has a liquid reservoir and an outlet opening through which the liquid can be discharged. The liquid reservoir of a liquid dispenser of this type or according to the invention usually has a volume of a maximum of 200 ml, particularly preferably 50 ml or less. In order to transport the liquid from the liquid reservoir to the outlet opening, a pump device can be provided. Alternatively, it is also possible to directly apply pressure to the liquid in the liquid reservoir in order to discharge the liquid.

[0003] In a dispenser of this type, it is provided that the internal volume of the liquid reservoir decreases during the discharge process. Therefore, it is not necessary to compensate for the removal of liquid by introducing air into the liquid reservoir. Instead, the internal volume is reduced, in particular by using a reservoir piston which limits the interior space of the liquid reservoir.

[0004] In liquid dispensers, in particular dispensers for dispensing pharmaceutical liquids, it can be very important to monitor the liquid remaining in the liquid reservoir in order to be able to detect the imminent complete emptying of the liquid reservoir early enough and to prepare a new liquid dispenser. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an advantageous method for detecting residual liquid in a liquid reservoir.

[0006] In order to solve this problem, the present invention proposes a dispenser for dispensing liquids, which is particularly provided for dispensing pharmaceutical or cosmetic liquids and is filled with the corresponding liquid in a state ready for sale. In particular, the dispenser according to the present invention is filled with a high-viscosity liquid.

[0007] In line with general dispensers, the dispenser according to the invention has a liquid reservoir and an outlet opening for discharging liquid from the liquid reservoir. The dispenser according to the invention is usually configured as a mobile dispenser, which can be conveniently carried around, for example in a handbag. In particular, without taking into account the liquid contained, the dispenser preferably has a mass of a maximum of 100 grams, in particular a maximum of 30 grams. For the electronic components and their supply device described further, such a dispenser preferably has a battery, preferably a rechargeable battery.

[0008] The liquid storage device has an internal volume, which decreases during the discharge process of the liquid. In particular, the liquid storage device has a storage cylinder and a storage piston that can be displaced in the storage cylinder. In such a design, when the liquid is discharged, the storage piston moves in the storage cylinder.

[0009] A design is possible in which the reservoir piston moves relative to the stationary reservoir cylinder, and a design is also possible in which the reservoir piston remains stationary relative to the outlet opening at least after the dispenser has been put into operation, and the reservoir cylinder including its cylindrical circumferential wall is moved instead. In the design with a reservoir piston that is stationary during operation, it is preferably provided that the reservoir piston is penetrated by the outflow channel. In the design with a movable reservoir piston, the outflow channel in the direction of the outlet opening is preferably provided at the end of the reservoir cylinder that is opposite the reservoir piston.

[0010] The reservoir piston can be a pull piston or a push piston. Combinations are also possible.

[0011] If the dispenser has a pump device separate from the liquid reservoir, the pump device is connected to the outflow channel of the liquid reservoir via its pump inlet. If liquid is removed from the liquid reservoir by means of the pump device, a negative pressure is generated in the liquid reservoir, which pulls the reservoir piston in the direction of the reservoir becoming smaller. In this case, the reservoir piston acts as a pulling piston.

[0012] Alternatively, the liquid reservoir itself can also be a pump chamber. This should be understood to mean that the liquid discharge is caused by the excess pressure in the liquid reservoir itself. In this case, the reservoir piston serves the purpose of applying force from the outside and in particular manually and thus increasing the pressure in the liquid reservoir. The reservoir piston is therefore a displacement piston.

[0013] In addition to manual force application, it is also possible to tension the reservoir piston via a spring device and thereby place the reservoir under permanent pressure. As soon as a discharge valve on the outlet side of the liquid reservoir is opened or a pump device downstream of the liquid reservoir is actuated, a discharge occurs and the reservoir piston is displaced by the spring in the direction of the discharge opening.

[0014] In the above-described trailing piston design, a spring device can be used for force loading of the reservoir piston in order to reduce possible slip-stick effects between reservoir cylinder and reservoir piston.

[0015] The dispenser is designed to at least roughly measure the remaining liquid in the liquid reservoir by means of the sensor in order to display the acquired data therein and / or process them in another way.

[0016] In the dispenser according to the invention, the measurement is performed by means of a distance sensor assembly which is designed and arranged to detect the distance between two housing sections, which are sections whose distance changes as the inner volume of the liquid reservoir decreases.

[0017] In particular, the distance measurement can be carried out between the wall of the reservoir piston or reservoir cylinder as one housing section and a second, stationary wall as the other housing section. However, other housing sections which are displaced due to the structural connection with the relative movement of the reservoir cylinder and reservoir piston can also form the housing section for the distance measurement.

[0018] Different measuring principles of distance sensor assemblies are possible.

[0019] When using the optical measuring principle, it can be expedient to manufacture housing sections of the dispenser from a transparent material so that the light used for the measurement can penetrate these housing sections. In particular, it can be provided that the storage cylinder has a transparent wall section through which the optical measurement is performed. The distance sensor assembly and the storage piston are preferably arranged on opposite sides of the transparent wall section.

[0020] In the sense of the present invention, an optical measuring principle is understood to be any measuring principle which is based on the evaluation of electromagnetic waves previously emitted by a distance sensor component.

[0021] In the optical measurement principle, in particular, there can be a light sensor which captures incident light, which was previously emitted by the transmitter of the distance sensor assembly and which is preferably reflected by the wall of the distributor so as to be projected back to the light sensor. The light sensor as a receiver can capture the light intensity here and, together with the evaluation electronics, interpret the change in intensity as a change in distance. Alternatively, the travel time of the light signal or other electromagnetic signal can also be measured, which changes with the change in the spacing of the housing components. The light sensor can also be designed as a sensor field, which makes the position of the light incidence measurable. The light source can in particular be designed as a laser light source. The appearance of the preferably reflected laser beam on the sensor field can allow the distance of the housing section to be geometrically inferred.

[0022] In the acoustic measuring principle, it is provided that the distance sensor assembly generates an acoustic signal and measures its propagation or in particular its travel time. It can in particular be an ultrasonic distance sensor.

[0023] For distance sensor designs of the type described, suitable measuring modules are available which can be employed in most cases. Depending on the intended application of the distance measurement, high accuracy is not required in most cases.

[0024] One possible design provides that the respective transmitter and the corresponding receiver of the sensor assembly are each fixedly mounted on two housing sections whose distance is to be acquired. Thus, the transmitter and the receiver change their distance from each other during continuous emptying of the liquid reservoir.

[0025] However, a design is preferred in which the transmitter and the receiver are preferably arranged in a fixed position relative to one another in that they are part of a common sensor unit. The sensor unit is mounted on one of the two housing sections and is oriented in the direction of the other housing section. The electromagnetic or sound waves emitted by the transmitter are reflected there and projected back to the receiver.

[0026] The common sensor unit reduces the structural complexity since these and, if appropriate, further electronic components of the dispenser can be combined on the housing section.

[0027] The common sensor arrangement preferably has a common sensor housing having a wall on which the transmitter and the receiver are arranged or behind which the housing is preferably provided for attachment to a carrier component of the corresponding housing section.

[0028] The transmitter is designed to emit signals in a central emission direction, which preferably corresponds substantially to a central reception direction of the receiver. The central emission direction and the central reception direction enclose an angle of maximum 30°, preferably maximum 10°, with the displacement direction of the housing segments relative to one another. The transmitter and the receiver are thus oriented substantially in the displacement direction.

[0029] The use of such a common sensor unit is particularly expedient in simple dispensers, in particular in the case of manual actuation, in which the housing sections are manually displaced relative to one another, in particular by applying forces to actuating surfaces respectively provided on the housing sections, or in dispensers with a pump device for manual actuation which is equipped with a reservoir piston whose position is detected by the sensor unit.

[0030] The distance sensor assembly of the dispenser according to the invention serves the purpose of being able to electronically acquire the amount of liquid still present in the liquid reservoir. Preferably, the distance sensor assembly is part of the evaluation electronics on the dispenser side, which particularly preferably also includes an energy source, such as a rechargeable battery and a processor for processing the sensor data in addition to the distance sensor assembly. In order to transmit the acquired sensor data, the evaluation electronics preferably also have a network interface, in particular a Bluetooth and / or WIFI interface. A 4G or 5G mobile radio interface is also possible. The evaluation electronics can be connected to an external device, such as a smartphone in particular, via the network interface.

[0031] In addition to the distance sensor assembly, the evaluation electronics may also have further sensors for evaluating the use of the dispenser. Thus, an output sensor may be provided which detects the manipulation caused by the output or the output itself. It may be provided that the distance sensor assembly reacts to the output thus detected to detect the filling level of the liquid reservoir. This allows the energy consumption of the distance sensor assembly to be kept low.

[0032] The evaluation electronics can be an integral part of the dispenser. However, it is considered preferred to divide the dispenser into two parts. The output device here comprises the part that conducts the liquid and in particular the liquid reservoir and the output opening. Preferably, there are no electronic components at the output device itself. The output device is preferably not designed for repeated use when refilling or replacing the liquid reservoir, but is usually disposed of after emptying.

[0033] Instead, the evaluation electronics, but in particular at least the distance sensor assembly with the transmitter and the receiver, is part of a separate evaluation unit. In this case, all electrical and electronic components of the dispenser are preferably combined. The evaluation electronics are preferably used in succession with a plurality of output devices.

[0034] The subdivision is therefore particularly useful for the purpose of reusing relatively complex evaluation units with a plurality of dispensing devices. If a dispensing device is used up due to emptying the liquid reservoir, the evaluation unit is released from the dispensing device and the dispensing device without the electronic components is disposed of. The evaluation unit can then be mounted on a new dispensing device.

[0035] Advantageously, the distance sensor assembly is provided for measuring the distance between two housing sections, one of which is provided at the evaluation unit, where the distance sensor assembly is mounted, and the other housing section is provided at the output device and serves to reflect electromagnetic or acoustic waves.

[0036] In such a configuration, the evaluation unit can not only reliably detect a change in position of the reservoir piston relative to the reservoir cylinder, but can also detect whether the evaluation unit is coupled to the output device or decoupled therefrom by evaluating the distance measured by means of the distance sensor arrangement. If this distance is greater than the maximum distance to be expected during operation or if, in response to the emitted signal, no reflected signal is registered at the receiver, this is an indication of a decoupled state.

[0037] The evaluation unit can preferably be easily mounted on a new dispensing device. In particular, the evaluation unit can be separated from the used dispensing device and connected to the new dispensing device without tools. The evaluation unit is preferably connected to the dispensing device with a friction fit or a form fit, in particular by means of a releasable latching connection or a clamping connection.

[0038] The evaluation electronic device preferably also includes a display device. Alternatively, the display device can also be omitted and the display screen of a smartphone connected to the evaluation electronic device can be used instead to output information.

[0039] A display device or alternatively an external device (such as a smartphone) connected to the dispenser can display the fill level of the liquid reservoir based on the sensor data of the distance sensor assembly. Although it is desirable to detect and display this fill level very accurately, a very accurate display can also be problematic. In particular, in designs in which the reservoir piston is designed as a trailing piston, it can happen that when removing liquid, the reservoir piston is not immediately pushed forward in the reservoir cylinder due to static friction and instead a negative pressure is generated in the liquid reservoir. Then, only at a later point in time and, if necessary, after the liquid has been discharged again from the liquid reservoir, a displacement of the reservoir piston occurs again.

[0040] Due to inaccuracies in the acquisition of the fill level, it is considered advantageous if the fill level is displayed on the display device or the display screen of the smartphone with less precision, in particular in a maximum of five discrete steps. This prevents the user from having a false sense of security because he or she may mistakenly believe that the liquid reservoir is still full, although it has actually been emptied further.

[0041] It may be advantageous to use a system with only three stages when displaying the fill level, wherein this can be provided in particular in the form of a traffic light which lights up green when the liquid reservoir is largely filled, lights up orange after a certain amount of liquid has been removed and then lights up red when a defined limit value is fallen below, in order to warn the user that he should have a new dispenser or a new dispensing device ready. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Further advantages and aspects of the invention emerge from the claims and the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are explained subsequently with reference to the drawings.

[0043] 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of a dispenser and an evaluation unit thereof according to the invention.

[0044] Figure 5 A variant of the dispenser according to FIGS. 1 to 4 is shown with integrated evaluation electronics.

[0045] Figure 6 and Figure 7 Further embodiments of dispensers according to the invention are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] Figures 1A to 3A first embodiment of a dispenser 10 according to the invention is shown. The dispenser 10 is constructed as a pump dispenser. It has a liquid reservoir 40, on which a delivery head is arranged. The delivery head in turn has a base 20, on which a pump device 60 is fastened. The outlet connection of the pump device 16 is arranged on a depressible operating push rod 18. If the operating push rod 18 is pressed, the liquid is thereby pressed from the pump chamber of the pump device 16 in the direction of the delivery opening 14 and discharged there. During the return stroke of the pump device 16, the liquid is sucked from the liquid reservoir 40.

[0047] The liquid reservoir 40 is mainly limited by a reservoir cylinder 42 and a reservoir piston 44 that can move within the reservoir cylinder. Figure 1A When dispensing liquid starting from a largely full fill level, the resulting negative pressure in liquid reservoir 40 causes reservoir piston 44 to be pulled upward in the manner of a displacement piston.

[0048] These components together form a functional output device 12 .

[0049] In addition to the output device 12, the dispenser 10 also has an evaluation unit 70, which is used to detect the filling level of the liquid reservoir 40. The evaluation unit 70 is designed in the form of an easily connectable module, which in the present embodiment can be attached to the lower end of the reservoir cylinder 42 by means of a thread, for example. The evaluation unit 70 has a distance sensor assembly 90, the function of which is explained in further detail. In addition, the evaluation unit 70 has further electrical or electronic components, namely a battery 80, a processor 82 (which is preferably equipped with a memory) and a network interface 84 (in particular designed as a Bluetooth or WLAN wireless module).

[0050] At the outside of the evaluation unit 70, Figure 1B 86 is shown in a manner visible in FIG. In the present case, the display device 86 displays two pieces of information, namely the filling level of the battery 80 by means of a first bar 86A and the filling level of the liquid reservoir 40 by means of a second bar 86B. Only five states are provided in each case, namely between 0 and 4 bars.

[0051] Figure 2 The dispenser 10 is shown in operation, after a portion of the liquid has been removed from the liquid reservoir 40. The removal of the liquid has caused the reservoir piston 44 to have moved slightly upwards.

[0052] In order to measure the position of the reservoir piston 44 and thus the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid reservoir 40, a distance sensor assembly 90 is used. Figure 3 as well as Figure 4A and Figure 4BIn a known manner, the distance sensor arrangement has a transmitter 92 and receivers 93, 94. Various optical and acoustic measuring principles are conceivable here.

[0053] As in Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the transmitter 92 emits a signal which is reflected at the reservoir piston 44 and thus returns to the distance sensor assembly 90 and its receivers 93, 94. By measuring the travel time of the corresponding signal or the strength of the reflected signal acquired via the receiver 93, the position of the reservoir piston 44 can be inferred. Figure 4B Another possibility is shown by the illustration of . Here it is provided that the transmitter emits a focused signal (in particular in the form of a laser beam) which is reflected at the underside of the reservoir piston 44 and falls on different parts of the sensor 94 designed as a sensor field, depending on the distance of the reservoir piston 44 from the evaluation unit 70. The point where the laser beam strikes thus depends on the position of the reservoir piston 44.

[0054] The output device 12 of the dispenser 10 is only provided for single use. Once the liquid reservoir is completely emptied, it is not refilled, but the output device 12 is cleared. However, the evaluation unit 70 is removed beforehand, unscrewed in the present example. The evaluation unit can then be connected to the new output device 12. It is suitable that the evaluation unit 70 detects this change autonomously and sends it to an external device, for example via the network interface 84. This recognition can also be carried out with the aid of the distance sensor assembly 90. In particular, if a signal is emitted by the transmitter 92 for which no reflection is detected at the receivers 93, 94, it can be regarded as an indicator for separation.

[0055] Figure 5 An alternative design of the liquid distributor 10 is shown. Here, the evaluation unit is provided as an integrated evaluation unit and is integrated into the reservoir piston 44. In contrast, the lower closure 22, which closes the distributor 10 downwards, is designed without electronic components, unlike in the previous embodiments. It merely forms a housing section 52, which serves as a reflective surface during the measurement process.

[0056] As from Figure 5 It can be seen that in the case of this design, distance sensor assembly 90 emits a signal directed downward, which is reflected by housing section 52 and is then detected by a receiver of distance sensor assembly 90 .

[0057] In accordance with Figure 5 In the design of the present invention, no display device is provided. Instead, the acquired liquid level is forwarded to an external system (such as a smartphone) and processed and / or displayed there.

[0058] Figure 6The design of shows a dispenser which is again significantly different. This dispenser is a so-called two-tank dispenser, from which liquid can be dispensed in two partial strokes. The liquid reservoir 40 of this dispenser 10 is provided in the form of a transparent reservoir cylinder 42 which is closed at its upper end by a reservoir piston 44 (for example made of rubber).

[0059] If from Figure 6 The lower operating push rod 26 is pressed upward from the state of the operating push rod 26, and the structure of the operating push rod 26 is hooked into the locking step 28A of the storage cylinder frame 28, so that the storage cylinder 42 and the storage piston 44 are first pressed upward together until the needle 15 pierces the storage piston 44 from above. Then, the continued upward movement of the operating push rod 26 causes the first dose of liquid to be discharged.

[0060] After the first dose is discharged, the operating plunger 26 is first released and pressed back into its initial position by the return spring. Here, the latching arm 26A of the operating plunger 26 passes the retaining step 28B, thereby locking the retaining arm 26A in the next operation and thus being able to discharge the second liquid dose.

[0061] For evaluating the liquid discharge, an evaluation unit 70 is arranged on the storage cylinder carrier 28 carrying the storage cylinder 42. Figure 7 1 to 4. It also has an upwardly directed distance sensor assembly 90 which contains a transmitter and a receiver. The distance sensor assembly determines the distance between the evaluation unit 70 and the storage piston 44. In order to achieve this optically, the storage cylinder 42 is provided with a wall section 42A which is transparent to the wavelength range used, at least in its bottom region. Figure 6 As shown by the arrow in , the emitted signal of the distance sensor assembly 90 therefore passes through the bottom side wall section 42A and through the liquid in the liquid storage 40 to reach the storage piston 44, where it is reflected so as to be acquired by the receiver of the distance sensor assembly 90 after crossing the liquid storage 40 and the wall section 42A again.

[0062] In turn, it is possible to infer how far the accumulator piston has been pushed into accumulator cylinder 42 based on the measured intensity of the signal or also the measured travel time.

[0063] Figure 8 Another embodiment of a dispenser 10 according to the present invention is shown. The structural design is similar to that of the Figure 6 and Figure 7Not entirely different, since here too the actuating tappet 26 is pushed upward in the direction of the outlet opening 14 in order thereby to displace the accumulator cylinder 42 relative to the accumulator piston 44 and thus to apply pressure to the contained liquid.

[0064] Figure 8 The special feature of the design is that it does not detect the position of the reservoir piston 44 or the reservoir cylinder 42 itself. Instead, the evaluation electronics and its distance sensor 90 are arranged away from the liquid reservoir 40 and detect the distance between the finger rest 18A and the distance sensor assembly 90 arranged thereon on the one hand and the lower reflective surface of the housing section 52 as part of the actuating push rod 26 on the other hand.

Claims

1. A dispenser (10) for dispensing liquids, in particular pharmaceutical and cosmetic liquids, having the following characteristics: a. The dispenser has a liquid reservoir (40), and b. the dispenser (10) having an output opening (14) for discharging the liquid from the liquid reservoir (40), and c. the liquid storage device (40) has an internal volume, which decreases during the discharge of the liquid, Features The following additional features d. the dispenser (10) has two housing sections (50, 52), the spacing of the housing sections changing as the internal volume of the liquid reservoir (40) decreases, and e. The dispenser (10) has a distance sensor assembly (90) for acquiring the distance between the housing sections (50, 52).

2. The dispenser (10) according to claim 1, having the following additional features: a. the liquid reservoir (40) having a reservoir cylinder (42) and a reservoir piston (44) displaceable relative to the reservoir cylinder (42), and b. The wall of the reservoir piston (44) forms one of the housing sections (52).

3. The dispenser (10) according to claim 1 or 2, having the following additional features: a. The distance sensor assembly (90) is configured as an optical distance sensor assembly (90), It preferably has one of the following additional features: b. The distance sensor assembly (90) has a transmitter (92) for emitting light and a receiver (93) for determining the intensity of the light, or c. the distance sensor assembly (90) comprises a transmitter (92) and a receiver (93), by means of which a time interval between the emission of light by the transmitter (92) and the reception of light by the receiver (93) can be determined, or d. The distance sensor assembly (90) has an emitter (92) in the form of a laser light source and a sensor field (94), by means of which the position at which the light of the laser light source is incident can be detected.

4. The dispenser (10) according to claim 1 or 2, having the following additional features: a. The distance sensor assembly (90) is configured as an acoustic distance sensor assembly (90), It preferably has the following additional features: b. The distance sensor assembly (90) has an ultrasonic distance sensor.

5. Dispenser (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, having the following additional features: a. The dispenser (10) has a pump device (16) separated from the liquid reservoir (40), the pump device having a pump inlet and a pump outlet, wherein: The pump inlet is connected to the liquid reservoir (40), and wherein the pump outlet is connected to the output opening (14), and b. The reservoir piston (44) is designed as a trailing piston which is displaced by removing liquid from the liquid reservoir (40).

6. The dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 4, having the following additional features: a. The liquid storage device (40) is configured as a pump storage device having a storage device outlet, the storage device outlet being connected to the output opening (14), and b. The storage piston (44) is configured as a displacement piston, which can be displaced relative to the storage cylinder (42) by manual force, wherein: Liquid is pressed from the liquid reservoir (40) to the output opening (14) by the relative displacement.

7. The dispenser (10) according to claim 6, having the following additional features: a. the reservoir piston (44) is arranged in a fixed position relative to the output opening (14) and is penetrated by an outflow channel, and b. The reservoir cylinder (42) can be displaced relative to the reservoir piston (44) by manual force loading.

8. Dispenser (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, having the following additional features: a. the storage cylinder (42) having a transparent wall section (42A), and b. The distance sensor component (90) and the reservoir piston (44) are arranged on opposite sides of the transparent wall section (42A).

9. Dispenser (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, having the following additional features: a. The distance sensor assembly (90) has a transmitter (92) and a receiver (93, 94), and b. The transmitter (92) and the receiver (93, 94) are arranged in a fixed position relative to each other, and c. The transmitter (92) and the receiver (93, 94) are oriented in the direction of the reflective housing section.

10. Dispenser (10) according to claim 9, having the following additional features: a. the transmitter (92) and the receiver (93, 94) are part of a common sensor unit, It preferably has the following additional features: b. The common sensor unit has a common sensor housing.

11. Dispenser (10) according to claim 10, having the following additional features: a. The sensor unit is connected to one of the two housing sections (50, 52) and is oriented in the direction of the other housing section (52, 50).

12. The dispenser (10) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, having the following additional features: a. The dispenser (10) has a battery (80) for operating the distance sensor assembly (90), which preferably has additional features: a. The dispenser (10) is designed as a mobile dispenser (10) which, when not filled with liquid, has a mass of a maximum of 100 grams, preferably a maximum of 30 grams.

13. Dispenser (10) according to any one of claims 9 to 12, having the following additional features: a. the transmitter (92) is configured to emit a signal in a central emission direction, and b. The receiver (93, 94) is configured to receive signals in a central receiving direction, and c. The central emission direction and the central receiving direction enclose an angle of maximum 30°, preferably maximum 10°, with the displacement directions of the housing segments (50, 52) relative to one another.

14. Dispenser (10) according to any one of claims 9 to 13, having the following additional features: a. the dispenser (10) is configured to manually displace the housing sections (50, 52) relative to each other, It preferably has the following additional features: a. The distributor (10) has control surfaces (18A, 26) on the housing sections (50, 52), respectively.

15. Dispenser (10) according to any one of claims 9 to 13, having the following additional features: a. the dispenser (10) having a pump device (16) separated from the liquid reservoir (40), the pump device being configured for manual operation, and b. the liquid reservoir (40) is equipped with a reservoir piston (44), and c. The sensor assembly is configured to detect a position of the reservoir piston (44).

16. The dispenser (10) according to claim 1, having the following additional features: a. The dispenser (10) has an output device (12), the output device having at least the liquid reservoir (40) and the output opening (14), and b. the dispenser (10) having an evaluation unit (70) that can be released from the output device (12), the evaluation unit comprising at least the distance sensor assembly (90), It preferably has at least one of the following additional features: c. The output device (12) and the evaluation unit (70) are configured for tool-free coupling and decoupling, and / or d. The output device (12) and the evaluation unit (70) have coupling surfaces for positive or frictional connection with one another.

17. Dispenser (10) according to any of the preceding claims, having at least one of the following additional features: a. the dispenser (10) having a battery (80) for operating the distance sensor assembly (90), and / or b. The distributor has a processor (82), and / or c. The dispenser has a network interface (84) for communicating with an external device, wherein: The network interface is preferably a wireless network interface, and / or d. The dispenser (10) has a sensor and / or a motion sensor for acquiring the output process, and / or e. The liquid reservoir (40) is filled with a pharmaceutical or cosmetic liquid, wherein in particular, the liquid reservoir (40) is filled with a high-viscosity liquid.

18. A dispenser system having the following features: a. The dispenser system has a dispenser (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, and b. the dispenser system has an electronic display device (86) for displaying the filling level of the liquid reservoir (40) of the dispenser (10), It preferably has at least one of the following features: c. the display device (86) is arranged on the dispenser (10), in particular on a detachable evaluation unit (70) of the dispenser (10), or d. The display device is formed by an external unit, in particular by a personal electronic device such as a smartphone.

19. The dispenser system of claim 18, having the following additional features: a. The display device is configured to display the fill level of the liquid reservoir in a maximum of five discrete steps.

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