Product dispensing apparatus with improved pre-filling and associated filling method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a product dispensing device comprising an opening communicating with the outside of the device, a stopper, a stopper housing, the device being arranged to expel fluid and / or gas from a bag and / or reservoir of fluid to the opening through the stopper housing at least in the absence of the stopper. The plug housing comprises at least one main body portion, the plug comprises at least one main body portion, the main body portion of the plug housing is arranged to accommodate the main body portion of the plug, so that in a first insertion position of the plug inserted into the plug housing from the opening, fluid and / or gas can escape from the plug housing along and / or around the plug through the opening, and in a second insertion position of the plug inserted into the plug housing from the opening, fluid and / or gas can escape from the plug housing along and / or around the plug. And in a second insertion position of the plug from the opening into the plug housing, the fluid and / or gas can no longer escape from the plug housing through the opening along and / or around the plug due to the plug being pushed or moved further into the plug housing in the second insertion position compared to in the first insertion position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a product dispensing device. The present invention also relates to an associated filling method. Background Art

[0002] Dispensing devices for dispensing products or fluids are known.

[0003] However, filling these devices according to the prior art may cause certain pre-filling problems because it may be difficult to expel a maximum amount of gas or air during filling before the first use of the device.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to solve this problem. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This object is achieved by a product dispensing device comprising:

[0006] - an opening that communicates with the exterior of the device,

[0007] - a plug,

[0008] - a plug housing,

[0009] The device is arranged to discharge fluid and / or gas from a fluid bag and / or reservoir to the opening through the plug housing, at least in the absence of the plug.

[0010] Characterized in that

[0011] the plug housing comprises at least one main body portion,

[0012] the plug comprises at least one main body portion,

[0013] the main body portion of the plug housing is arranged to receive the main body portion of the plug such that:

[0014] - in a first insertion position where the plug is inserted from the opening into the plug housing, fluid and / or gas can escape from the plug housing through the opening along and / or around the plug, and

[0015] - in a second insertion position where the plug is inserted from the opening into the plug housing, since the plug is further pushed or moved into the plug housing compared to the first insertion position, fluid and / or gas can no longer escape from the plug housing through the opening along and / or around the plug,

[0016] the main body portion of the plug housing may comprise a large section and a small section smaller than the large section, the large section being oriented towards the opening and the small section being oriented towards the bag and / or the reservoir.

[0017] The body portion of the plug may include a side chamber which is arranged to allow fluid and / or gas to pass along and / or around the plug in a first insertion position of the plug and to sealably store fluid and / or gas in a second insertion position of the plug.

[0018] The side chamber may be defined between two sealing rings carried by the body portion of the plug.

[0019] According to the invention:

[0020] - The plug housing comprises the following two communicating parts:

[0021] ○ The body portion of the plug housing oriented towards the opening,

[0022] ○ A thinning portion oriented towards the bag and / or the reservoir, the thinning portion having a smaller section than the body portion of the plug housing.

[0023] And / or

[0024] - The plug may comprise the following two communicating parts:

[0025] ○ The body portion of the plug,

[0026] ○ A finger portion having a smaller section than the body portion of the plug.

[0027] Preferably, the finger portion of the plug may be arranged to be inserted into the thinning portion of the plug housing such that, at least in the first insertion position of the plug, the finger portion discharges fluid and / or gas from the thinning portion towards the opening.

[0028] According to the invention:

[0029] - The opening may be an outlet of the device,

[0030] - The body portion of the plug may carry a dispensing valve and / or the body portion of the plug housing houses a dispensing valve which, in an open state, allows fluid to pass from the interior of the bag and / or the reservoir to the outlet and which, in a closed state, does not allow fluid to pass from the interior of the bag and / or the reservoir to the outlet.

[0031] The device according to the invention may comprise the bag and a dispensing orifice which connects the internal volume of the bag to the internal volume of a channel.

[0032] The bag may be a deformable bag having an internal volume arranged to contain fluid.

[0033] The plug housing may include clamping means or snap-fastening means arranged to hold the plug in its first insertion position.

[0034] The device according to the invention may include the bag and the reservoir, and the device may further include: a feed orifice connecting the interior volume of the bag to the interior volume of the reservoir; and a feed valve which, in an open state, allows fluid to pass from the reservoir to the interior of the bag, and which, in a closed state, does not allow fluid to pass from the reservoir to the interior of the bag.

[0035] The device according to the invention may further include a vent connecting the interior volume of the reservoir directly to the housing without passing through the bag. The plug may include a vent shutter arranged to close the vent when the plug is in its second insertion position. The vent shutter may be arranged not to close the vent when the plug is in its first insertion position.

[0036] According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for filling a device according to the invention, in which:

[0037] - when the plug is inserted into its first insertion position in the plug housing or is not inserted into the plug housing at all, the bag and / or the reservoir are filled with fluid, and:

[0038] ○ fluid and / or gas is caused to rise from the bag or the reservoir towards the opening, preferably by pressing the bag and / or the reservoir so as to reduce its volume and / or by injecting fluid into the reservoir so that fluid and / or gas rises from the bag or the reservoir towards the opening, and / or

[0039] ○ the plug is pushed or moved in the plug housing so as to move the plug from its first insertion position to its second insertion position.

[0040] According to the invention:

[0041] ○ fluid and / or gas can be caused to rise from the bag or the reservoir towards the opening,

[0042] ○ then, the level of fluid or the level of the plug in the plug housing can be detected by a sensor to be above a predetermined threshold, preferably the sensor is an optical sensor or an ultrasonic sensor,

[0043] ○Then, the plug is pushed or moved within the plug housing so as to move the plug from the first insertion position of the plug to the second insertion position of the plug.

[0044] According to the present invention:

[0045] ○ Fluid and / or gas can rise from the bag or reservoir to the opening, preferably when the plug is not inserted into the plug housing at all, preferably by pressing the bag and / or the reservoir so as to reduce its volume to enable fluid and / or gas to rise from the bag or reservoir to the opening.

[0046] ○ Then, the level of the fluid in the plug housing can be detected by a sensor to be higher than a predetermined threshold, preferably when the plug is not inserted into the plug housing at all, preferably the sensor is an optical sensor or an ultrasonic sensor.

[0047] ○ Then, the plug can be pushed or moved within the plug housing so as to move the plug from the outside of the housing to the first insertion position, such that the volume of the gas in the housing is replaced by the volume of the plug and / or the volume of the fluid in the housing, and the gas in the housing escapes from the plug housing through the opening along and / or around the plug.

[0048] ○ Then, the plug is pushed or moved within the plug housing so as to move the plug from the first insertion position of the plug to the second insertion position of the plug.

[0049] According to the present invention:

[0050] ○ Fluid and / or gas can rise from the bag or reservoir to the opening, preferably by pressing the bag and / or the reservoir so as to reduce its volume and / or by injecting fluid into the reservoir, fluid and / or gas can rise from the bag or reservoir to the opening, when the plug is inserted into its first insertion position in the plug housing, such that the volume of the gas in the housing is replaced by the volume of the plug and / or the volume of the fluid in the housing, and the gas in the housing escapes from the plug housing through the opening along and / or around the plug.

[0051] ○ Then, when the plug is inserted into its first insertion position in the plug housing, the level of the plug can be detected by a sensor to be higher than a predetermined threshold, preferably the sensor is an optical sensor or an ultrasonic sensor.

[0052] ○ Then, the plug is pushed or moved within the plug housing so as to move the plug from the first insertion position of the plug to the second insertion position of the plug.

[0053] According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a product dispensing device (which may be combined with a filling method according to the invention), the product dispensing device comprising a reservoir, the volume of which is variable due to the movement of a piston within walls which at least partly together with the piston define the internal volume of the reservoir, said filling method comprising the steps of:

[0054] - placing or inserting the piston into the walls at the inlet of the reservoir so as to maintain a gas passage area between the piston and the walls; then,

[0055] - discharging gas from the reservoir to the exterior of the product dispensing device through the passage area; then

[0056] - the piston reaching a greater depth within the reservoir than when the piston is positioned at the inlet of the reservoir.

[0057] The passage area may comprise at least one discharge means which is formed in the walls on the piston side, such as at least one hollow or undulation formed in the walls on the piston side, and / or the at least one discharge means is formed by a microstructure on at least a part of the walls in contact with the piston, and / or

[0058] the passage area comprises at least one discharge means which is located on at least a part of the piston in contact with the walls, such as at least one hollow or undulation formed in the piston on the wall side, and / or a microstructure on at least a part of the piston in contact with the walls,

[0059] The passage area may comprise at least one discharge means which is formed in the walls on the piston side only in a limited area of the walls such that the limitation of the limited area limits the extent of the air passage area.

[0060] The discharging may be carried out by suction or decompression, or by creating a vacuum in a space located outside the product dispensing device by means of a tool.

[0061] The tool may comprise a seal which is positioned on the outer periphery of the inlet of the reservoir during suction or decompression or vacuum, and the piston projects out of or partly out of the outer periphery of the inlet of the reservoir.

[0062] The piston reaches a greater depth in the reservoir than when the piston is positioned at the inlet of the reservoir, which can be achieved by pressing the piston with a part of a tool while maintaining suction or decompression or a vacuum.

[0063] When the piston reaches a greater depth in the reservoir than when the piston is positioned at the inlet of the reservoir, the piston may have extended beyond the gas passage area, so that gas can no longer pass between the piston and the walls.

[0064] The piston may include a lip arranged to ensure a seal between the piston and the walls outside this area with respect to the gas and / or fluid to be dispensed.

[0065] The piston may include another lip, and the two lips are oriented towards the inlet of the reservoir through which the piston has been inserted into the reservoir.

[0066] After inserting the piston into the reservoir, the inlet of the reservoir (through which the piston has been inserted into the reservoir) may be hidden by a lid.

[0067] While inserting the piston into the reservoir, the lid may be arranged at the inlet of the reservoir, and a part of the piston passes through a hole formed in the lid to receive the lid, preferably such that this part of the piston is fastened in the hole to carry the lid.

[0068] According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a product dispensing device comprising a reservoir and a piston, the reservoir being arranged to have a variable volume due to the movement of the piston within the walls, the walls at least partially together with the piston defining the internal volume of the reservoir, the device comprising a plurality of positions of the piston within the walls, the plurality of positions including:

[0069] - an inlet position at the inlet of the reservoir, the inlet position of the piston enabling a gas passage area to be maintained between the piston and the walls,

[0070] - a deep position, the deep position being located at a greater depth in the reservoir than when the piston is positioned at the inlet position of the reservoir.

[0071] The passage area can be formed as follows:

[0072] Discharge elements formed in the walls on the piston side, and each discharge element is formed on the walls only over a limited area of the walls, such that this limitation of the limited area limits the extent of the air passage area.

[0073] The device according to the invention may comprise means arranged to prevent or limit the return of the piston 52 to a non-sealing area when the piston has reached its deep position ensuring the sealing of the product between the piston and the walls.

[0074] Preferably, the device is arranged to prevent the piston from returning to the non-sealing area under a reduced pressure of 0.8 bar relative to the atmospheric pressure.

[0075] According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a product dispensing device comprising:

[0076] a bag connected to a reservoir,

[0077] an outlet,

[0078] a dispensing valve which, in an open state, allows fluid to pass from the interior of the bag or the reservoir to the outlet, and which, in a closed state, does not allow fluid to pass from the interior of the bag or the reservoir to the outlet,

[0079] a feed valve which, in an open state, allows fluid to pass from the reservoir to the interior of the bag, and which, in a closed state, does not allow fluid to pass from the reservoir to the interior of the bag.

[0080] The device comprises a valve element arranged to bear against an end piece surrounding the outlet so as to block the outlet. The valve element comprises a first part provided with a nozzle which is movable relative to a second part by means of a hinge. The second part is fixed relative to the end piece or is only capable of translating relative to the end piece. The second part is provided with a housing or nozzle directed towards the outlet of the end piece, the housing or nozzle being arranged to cooperate respectively with the nozzle or housing of the end piece. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0081] Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments and examples and the following drawings:

[0082] Figure 1 Figure 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of a device assembled according to the invention,

[0083] Figure 2 Figure 2 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention during the assembly of a first embodiment of a filling method according to the invention,

[0084] Figure 3 Figure 3 ​​​​​​is a sectional view of a first embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention during the assembly of a first embodiment of a filling method according to the present invention,

[0085] Figure 4 Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of a plug of a second embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention, which is a preferred embodiment of the present invention:

[0086] Figure 5 Figure 5 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention during the assembly of a second embodiment of a filling method according to the present invention,

[0087] Figure 6 Figure 6 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention during the assembly of a second embodiment of a filling method according to the present invention,

[0088] Figure 7 Figure 7 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention during the assembly of a second embodiment of a filling method according to the present invention,

[0089] Figure 8 Figure 8 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of an apparatus assembled according to the present invention,

[0090] Figure 9 Figure 9 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of an apparatus assembled according to the present invention,

[0091] Figure 10 Figure 10 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention during the assembly of a first embodiment of a filling method according to the present invention,

[0092] Figure 11 Figure 11 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention during the assembly of a second embodiment of a filling method according to the present invention,

[0093] Figure 12 Figure 12 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention during filling through an opening with a pipe,

[0094] Figure 13 Figure 13 is a front view of a first embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention during filling through an opening with a pipe,

[0095] Figure 14 ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Figure 14 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention during filling with a tube through vent 133,

[0096] Figure 15 Figure 15 is a front view of a fifth embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention during filling with a tube through vent 133,

[0097] Figure 16a Figure 16a is a front view of a prior apparatus according to the present invention when the plug is separated from the outlet,

[0098] Figure 16b Figure 16b is a front view of a prior apparatus according to the present invention when the plug is separated from the outlet and there is no bag,

[0099] Figure 16c Figure 16c is Figure 16a and 16b an enlarged view at the plug,

[0100] Figure 17 Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view of a reservoir in a variant of a prior apparatus according to the present invention,

[0101] Figure 18a Figure 18a is a perspective view of a piston according to the present invention without a discharge device,

[0102] Figure 18b Figure 18b is a perspective view of a piston according to the present invention with a microstructure,

[0103] Figure 18c Figure 18c is a perspective view of a piston according to the present invention with a hollow or undulating portion,

[0104] Figure 19 Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view of a piston positioned at the inlet of a reservoir according to the present invention,

[0105] Figure 20 Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view of a reservoir according to the present invention with a discharge tool,

[0106] Figure 21 Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view of a reservoir according to the present invention with a piston pressed in,

[0107] Figure 22 Figure 22 ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Cross-sectional view of a reservoir with a piston provided with a second lip according to the present invention,

[0108] Figure 23a Figure 23a Cross-sectional view of a reservoir provided with a hollow or undulating portion according to the present invention,

[0109] Figure 23b Figure 23b Cross-sectional view of a non-circular reservoir and piston according to the present invention,

[0110] Figure 24 Figure 24 Side cross-sectional view of device 106 with a pressed valve element according to the present invention,

[0111] Figure 25 Figure 25 Side cross-sectional view of device 106 with a disengaged valve element according to the present invention,

[0112] Figure 26 Figure 26 Planar cross-sectional view of device 106 according to the present invention according to another,

[0113] Figure 27 Figure 27 Stereogram of piston 52 showing a first variant of device 44 of piston 52,

[0114] Figure 28 Figure 28 Stereogram showing a first variant of device 44 of lid 66,

[0115] Figure 29 Figure 29 Cross-sectional view showing a first variant of device 44 of the piston and the lid, the device being arranged to prevent piston 52 from returning to the unsealed area 65 of piston 52 when piston 52 has reached a sealing area deeper than area 65 towards bag 2,

[0116] Figure 30 Figure 30 Cross-sectional view showing a first variant of device 44,

[0117] Figure 31 Figure 31 Cross-sectional view showing a second variant of device 44,

[0118] Figure 32 Figure 32 Cross-sectional view showing a second variant of device 44, the device being arranged to prevent piston 52 from returning to the unsealed area 65 of piston 52 when piston 52 has reached a sealing area deeper than area 65 towards bag 2, ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[0119] Figure 33 Figure 33 is a sectional view showing a part of the device, including this second variant of the device 44 and the channel 56,

[0120] Figure 34 Figure 34 is a perspective view showing a third variant of the device 44,

[0121] Figure 35 Figure 35 is a sectional view including this third variant of the device 44,

[0122] Figure 36 Figure 36 is a sectional view of the third variant, showing the protrusion 45 of the rod 64 in another plane,

[0123] Figure 37 Figure 37 is a side sectional view of the third variant of the device 44, which is arranged to prevent the piston 52 from returning to the unsealed area 65 of the piston 52 when the piston 52 has reached a sealing area deeper than the area 65 towards the bag 2.

[0124] These embodiments are in no way restrictive. If the selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to distinguish the invention from the state of the prior art, then the variants of the invention may be considered to include in particular only this selection of features described or shown below and isolated from other described or shown features (even if this selection is isolated within a sentence including these other features). This selection includes at least one functional feature preferably without structural details, and / or, if only a part of the structural details is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to distinguish the invention from the previous state of the prior art, then only this part of the structural details.

[0125] We will first describe only with reference to Figures 1 to 3 , the first embodiment of the device 101 according to the invention and the first embodiment of its filling method. The device 101 includes:

[0126] - an opening 10, which communicates with the exterior of the device 101,

[0127] - a plug 23,

[0128] - a plug housing 13.

[0129] The device 101 is arranged to discharge the fluid 7 and / or gas from the bag 2 or reservoir 6 of the fluid 7 to the opening 10 through the plug housing 13 at least in the absence of the plug 23.

[0130] ​​​​​​​​​​Fluid 7 is the fluid to be dispensed and preferably comprises a liquid and / or a gel and / or a cream and / or an oil and / or an emulsion.

[0131] Preferably, the gas is air.

[0132] The plug housing 13 comprises at least one body part 131.

[0133] The plug 23 comprises at least one body part 231.

[0134] The body part 131 of the plug housing 13 is arranged to receive the body part 231 of the plug 23 such that:

[0135] - In a first insertion position of the plug 23 inserted into the plug housing 13 from the opening 10 ( Figure 3 shown in), the fluid 7 and / or the gas can escape from the plug housing 13 along and / or around the plug 23 through the opening 10, and

[0136] - In a second insertion position of the plug 23 inserted into the plug housing 13 from the opening 10 ( Figure 1 shown in), since the plug 23 is inserted further into the plug housing 13 compared to the first insertion position, the fluid 7 and / or the gas can no longer escape from the plug housing 13 along and / or around the plug 23 through the opening 10.

[0137] In the present specification, all sections are regions defined in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the direction in which the plug 23 is inserted into the housing 13.

[0138] The body part 131 of the plug housing 13 comprises a large section 141 and a small section 142 smaller than the large section 141. The large section 141 is oriented towards the opening 10 and the small section 142 is oriented towards the bag 2 or the reservoir 6. Preferably, the area of the section 141 is at least 3% larger than the area of the section 142. Preferably, the sections 141 and 142 are cylindrical and the difference between the average diameters of the sections 141 and 142 is at least 0.1 mm.

[0139] The body part 231 of the plug 23 comprises a side cavity 1 which is arranged to allow the fluid 7 and / or the gas to pass along and / or around the plug 23 in the first insertion position of the plug 23 and to store the fluid 7 and / or the gas in a sealed manner in the second insertion position of the plug 23.

[0140] The volume of the side cavity 1 is preferably greater than 10 microliters, preferably greater than 20 microliters or even greater than 30 microliters. The ratio between the volume of the side cavity 1 expressed in microliters and the surface area of the large section 141 expressed in mm 2 is preferably greater than 0.4, even more preferably greater than 1.

[0141] The side chamber 1 is delimited between two sealing rings or beads 11, 12 carried by the body part 231 of the plug 23.

[0142] These two rings 11, 12 are separated by a distance d of at least 2 mm or 3 mm and / or at least one third of the average diameter of the plug 23 and / or the opening diameter of the opening 10 or the maximum dimension of a section (perpendicular to its elongation direction) of the opening.

[0143] Among these two rings or beads 11 and 12, the ring or bead 12 is arranged to be inserted into the housing 13 before the ring or bead 11.

[0144] The plug housing 13 comprises two communicating parts:

[0145] ○ The body part 131 of the plug housing oriented towards the opening 10,

[0146] ○ The thinning part 132, which is oriented towards the bag 2 or the reservoir 6, and which has a section smaller than the body part 131 of the plug housing 13.

[0147] The plug 23 comprises two joined parts:

[0148] ○ The body part 231 of the plug,

[0149] ○ The finger part 232, which has a section smaller than the body part 231 of the plug 23.

[0150] The finger part 232 of the plug 23 is arranged to be inserted into the thinning part 132 of the plug housing 13 such that, at least in the first insertion position of the plug 23, the finger part 232 discharges the fluid 7 and / or the gas from the thinning part 132 towards the opening 10.

[0151] The device 101 comprises an outlet 24.

[0152] The device 101 comprises a dispensing valve 5 which, in the open state, allows the fluid 7 to pass from the interior of the bag 2 or the reservoir 6 towards the outlet 24 and which, in the closed state, does not allow the fluid 7 to pass from the interior of the bag 2 or the reservoir 6 towards the outlet 24.

[0153] In a particular case of the device 101, when the plug 23 is in its second insertion position, the opening 10 is provided with the outlet 24 of the device.

[0154] In a particular case of the device 101, the body part 231 of the plug 23 carries the dispensing valve 5 and / or the body part 131 of the plug housing 13 houses the dispensing valve 5.

[0155] The bag 2 is a deformable bag having an internal volume arranged to contain a fluid 7.

[0156] The reservoir 6 is arranged to receive the fluid 7.

[0157] The reservoir 6 is also flexible and includes a flexible wall 14. Thus, the reservoir 6 is arranged to deform by reducing its volume when it is emptied of the fluid 7.

[0158] The wall 14 (which forms a pouch) is fixed (preferably welded, for example by heat welding or ultrasonic welding) to the end piece 89 after the reservoir 6 has been filled with the product 7, which leaves gas in the reservoir 6 and / or the bag 2 after or during the welding.

[0159] To save time and / or simplify the manufacturing process or equipment:

[0160] - This fixing or welding can be carried out simultaneously with the pressing (by the force 18) of the bag 2 and / or the reservoir 6, which pressing reduces the volume and causes the fluid 7 and / or the gas to rise from the bag 2 or the reservoir 6 towards the opening 10 described below, and / or

[0161] - This fixing or welding can be carried out simultaneously on two pouches of two dispensing devices manufactured in parallel according to the invention by the same welding device.

[0162] The end piece 89 is part of a housing 13.

[0163] The end piece 89 is part of a bottom wall 21.

[0164] The plug housing 13 includes clamping means or snap-fastening means arranged to hold the plug 23 in its first insertion position.

[0165] The device 101 includes a dispensing orifice 51 which connects the internal volume of the bag 2 to the internal volume of a channel (in the particular case of the device 101, this channel is the housing 13):

[0166] - A containment valve 5 (as Figure 1 shown), and / or, closed by a removable lid or removable shutter (case not shown), and

[0167] - Terminating at an outlet 24 (which outlet can thus be closed by a removable lid or removable shutter).

[0168] The device 101 includes a feed orifice 41 which connects the internal volume of the bag 2 to the internal volume of the reservoir 6.

[0169] Device 101 includes a feed valve 4 which, in the open state, allows fluid 7 to pass from reservoir 6 to the interior of bag 2, and which, in the closed state, does not allow (or hardly allows) fluid 7 to pass from reservoir 6 to the interior of bag 2 (preferably, the feed valve 4 is not completely sealed and may allow slight backflow in its closed state).

[0170] The deformable bag 2 includes:

[0171] - a deformable or movable wall 22 which can be pressed to reduce the internal volume of the bag, and

[0172] - a rigid and non-deformable bottom wall 21.

[0173] The bag 2 is arranged such that:

[0174] - when the wall 22 is pressed:

[0175] ○ the internal volume of bag 2 is reduced,

[0176] ○ the dispensing valve 5 is opened by overpressure and / or fluid 7 flows out of bag 2 towards the outlet 24,

[0177] ○ the feed valve 4 (if present) is closed by overpressure.

[0178] - when the pressing of wall 22 is stopped:

[0179] ○ in the absence of a force being applied to wall 22, the internal volume of bag 2 increases to its maximum internal equilibrium volume,

[0180] ○ the feed valve 4 (if present) is opened by vacuum and / or fluid 7 flows from reservoir 6 towards the interior volume of bag 2,

[0181] ○ the dispensing valve 5 is closed by vacuum.

[0182] The outlet 24 of device 101 is equipped with a spraying nozzle 26.

[0183] The nozzle 26 is carried within a plug 23.

[0184] The outlet 24 is located on the vertical axis connecting the bag and the reservoir.

[0185] In other words, device 101 is arranged such that fluid 7 exits vertically from outlet 24.

[0186] In addition, the device 101 includes at least one opening or hole or vent 133 that connects the internal volume of the reservoir 6:

[0187] - either directly to the housing 13 without passing through the bag 2,

[0188] - or to the outside of the device 101 without passing through the housing 13 and without passing through the bag 2.

[0189] Figures 1 to 3 A specific case is described of connecting the internal volume of the reservoir 6 to at least one vent 133 (exactly one vent in the example of these figures) of the housing 13. In this case, for each vent 133, the plug 23 includes a vent shutter 233 that is arranged to close the vent 133 associated with the vent shutter when the plug 23 is in the second insertion position of the plug 23 (i.e., not allowing air to pass through the vent 133) (preferably, when the plug 23 is in the first insertion position of the plug 23, each vent shutter 233 is arranged not to block the vent 133 associated with it).

[0190] Still referring to Figures 1 to 3 , a first embodiment of a method for filling the device 101 includes the following steps:

[0191] - When the plug 23 is inserted into its first insertion position in the plug housing 13 or not inserted into the plug housing 13 at all, filling the bag 2 and / or the reservoir 6 with the fluid 7 (this filling can be performed (through a filling pipe or needle 77 or other means) by connecting the reservoir 6 to the vent 133 of the housing 13, or by connecting the reservoir 6 to the outside of the device 101 without passing through the vent of the housing 13, or especially through the housing 13 (more precisely, through parts 131 and / or 132 of the housing 13) in the absence of a vent 133, or before closing or sealing the reservoir 6 and / or before assembling the reservoir 6 to the end piece 89 or the housing 13), and then:

[0192] ○Press the bag 2 to reduce its volume, and / or press the reservoir 6 (in the case of a flexible reservoir, for example, the reservoir is in the form of a bag) to reduce its volume, and / or (when there is at least one vent 133) inject the fluid 7 by connecting the reservoir 6 to the vent 133 of the housing 13, or by connecting the reservoir 6 to the exterior of the device 101 without passing through the vent of the housing 13, or by the housing 13 (more precisely, by parts 131 and / or 132 of the housing 13), so that the fluid 7 and / or gas rises from the bag 2 or the reservoir 6 towards the opening 10 by applying a direct or indirect force 18 to the bag 2 or the reservoir 6 or a force 18 caused by the pressure of the fluid 7 used for its injection, and / or

[0193] ○ Push or move the plug 23 in the plug housing 13 so as to move the plug from its first insertion position to its second insertion position.

[0194] More precisely:

[0195] ○ Press the bag 2 to reduce its volume, and / or (by the force 18) press the reservoir 6 to reduce its volume, and / or (when there is at least one vent 133) inject the fluid 7 by connecting the reservoir 6 to the vent 133 of the housing 13, or by connecting the reservoir 6 to the exterior of the device 101 without passing through the vent of the housing 13, or by the housing 13 (more precisely, by parts 131 and / or 132 of the housing 13), so that the fluid 7 and / or gas rises from the bag 2 or the reservoir 6 towards the opening 10, preferably when the plug 23 is not inserted into the plug housing 13 at all,

[0196] ○ Carry out the rise of the fluid 7 and / or gas of the previous step (i.e., the pressing or injection of the previous step) until the level of the fluid 7 in the plug housing 13 is detected by the sensor 9 or by the eye (the interior of the housing 13 and / or the plug 23 includes a mark of the horizontal line or a visual level mark) to be higher than a predetermined threshold, the sensor is preferably an optical sensor or an ultrasonic sensor, preferably when the plug 23 is not inserted into the plug housing 13 at all; as Figure 2As shown, preferably, this threshold is reached when the fluid 7 has completely filled part 132 and starts to fill part 131. In practice, the sensor 9 is arranged to detect this threshold by aiming at the surface 15 and by detecting the change of this initially exposed surface 15, which is covered by the fluid 7 from the bag 2 or the reservoir 6; the sensor 9 detects the level of the fluid 7 passing through the opening 10; in another embodiment, the pressing or injection of the previous step is performed within a determined time corresponding to a certain amount of fluid 7 and / or gas rising from the bag 2 or the reservoir 6 towards the opening 10 (so it can be performed without using a sensor);

[0197] ○ Then, (by the insertion force 19 of the plug 23) the plug 23 is pushed or moved into the plug housing 13 so that the plug reaches its first insertion position from the outside of the housing 13, as Figure 3 shown, such that the volume of the gas in the housing 13 is replaced by the volume of the plug 23 (more precisely, the volume of the part of the plug 23 entering the plug housing 13) and / or the volume of the fluid 7 in the housing 13, and the gas in the housing escapes from the plug housing 13 through the opening 10 along and / or around the plug 23,

[0198] ○ Then, once this threshold is reached and / or detected, the pressing of the bag 2 or the reservoir 6 or the injection of the fluid 7 is stopped, and (by the force 19) the plug 23 is pushed or moved into the plug housing 13 so that the plug reaches its second insertion position from its first insertion position, as Figure 1 shown.

[0199] The passage of the plug 23 from its first insertion position to its second insertion position includes a step or transition 143 that separates the large section 141 from the small section 142 and is crossed by a ring or bead 12. When the ring or bead 12 reaches the level of this step or transition 143, the ring or bead 12 preferably contacts the fluid 7.

[0200] Note that for the first and second insertion positions of the plug 23, the finger 232 is at least partially inserted into the thinning part 132, which allows:

[0201] - guiding the plug, and

[0202] - during the plug moving from its first insertion position to its second insertion position, the fluid 7 rises towards the outlet 24 and / or the opening.

[0203] For the first insertion position of the plug 23, the finger 232 is partially inserted into the thinning part 132.

[0204] For the second insertion position of the plug 23, the fingers 232 are fully inserted into the thinning portion 132.

[0205] The sensor 9 is preferably an optical sensor and may include a transmitting - receiving optical fiber or even a camera, but generally any suitable technical means (LIDAR, ultrasonic, etc.) can be used.

[0206] In a variant (not shown), the bag 2 and / or the reservoir 6 are filled from the outside of the device through the opening 10 with a filling device so that the fluid 7 rises towards the opening 10.

[0207] We will now refer Figures 4 to 7 to describe a second embodiment of the device 102 according to the present invention and a second embodiment of its filling method, only describing the differences of the second embodiment of the device 102 and its filling method with respect to Figures 1 to 3 the first embodiment of the device 101 and the method.

[0208] The difference between the device 102 and the device 101 is that the device 102 includes at least one stop 27, 28 located on the plug 23 and / or on the wall defining the internal volume of the housing 13.

[0209] Generally, the device 102 includes:

[0210] - A stop 27 (preferably carried by the wall defining the internal volume of the housing 13), which is arranged to prevent the plug from moving from its first insertion position to its second insertion position as long as the force 19 (the force directed towards Figure 5 the bottom) does not exceed the insertion force threshold,

[0211] - A stop 28 (preferably carried by the plug 23, as Figure 4 shown), which is arranged to prevent the plug 23 from moving from its first insertion position to its fully removed position from the housing 13 as long as the force 19 (the force now directed towards Figure 5 the top) does not exceed the extraction force threshold.

[0212] The second embodiment of the filling method according to the present invention includes the following steps:

[0213] ○ The plug 23 is inserted (by the force 19) into its first insertion position, as Figure 5 shown. Since the force 19 applied to the plug 23 in this step is less than the insertion force threshold, the stop 27 prevents the plug 23 from fully entering the housing 13 until its second insertion position,

[0214] ○Then press the bag 2 to reduce its volume, and / or (by force 18) press the reservoir 6 to reduce its volume, and / or (in the presence of at least one vent 133) inject the fluid 7 by connecting the reservoir 6 to the vent 133 of the housing 13, or by connecting the reservoir 6 to the exterior of the device 101 without passing through the vent of the housing 13, or by the housing 13 (more precisely, by parts 131 and / or 132 of the housing 13).

[0215] So that when the plug 23 is inserted into its first insertion position in the plug housing 13, the fluid 7 and / or gas rises from the bag or reservoir towards the opening 10, such that the volume of the gas in the housing 13 is replaced by the volume of the plug 23 (more precisely, the volume of the part of the plug 23 entering the plug housing 13) and / or the volume of the fluid 7 in the housing 13, and the gas in the housing escapes from the plug housing 13 through the opening 10 along and / or around the plug 23; the upper end of the plug 23 is detected by the sensor 9 or the eye (the interior of the housing 13 and / or the plug 23 includes a horizontal line marker or a visual level marker) to be at the level h1, as Figure 5 shown.

[0216] ○ Perform the rise of the fluid 7 and / or gas according to the previous step (i.e., the previous step of pressing or injecting) until, when the plug 23 is inserted into its first insertion position in the plug housing 13, the level of the plug is detected by the sensor 9 or by the eye to be higher than a predetermined threshold h2, and the sensor is preferably an optical sensor or an ultrasonic sensor; as Figure 6 shown, the pressing or injecting action causes the fluid 7 to rise in the housing 13, which causes the plug 23 to rise from its level h1 to its level h2; since the force (Archimedes pressure) exerted by the fluid 7 on the plug 23 is less than the pull-out force threshold, the plug 23 is prevented from completely coming out of the housing 13 by the stopper 28.

[0217] ○ Then, once the threshold h2 is reached and / or detected, stop pressing the bag 2 or the reservoir 6 or stop injecting the fluid 7, and (by force 19) push or move the plug 23 into the plug housing 13 so that the plug moves from its first insertion position to its second insertion position, as Figure 7 shown.

[0218] In this embodiment, the sensor is preferably an optical sensor and may include a transmitting optical fiber and a receiver, and the end of the plug 23 carrying the outlet 24 is placed between the transmitting optical fiber and the receiver, but generally any suitable technical means (LIDAR, ultrasonic, etc.) can be used to measure the distance or level.

[0219] Reference Figure 12 andFigure 13 The wall 14 (which forms a pouch) is fixed (preferably welded, for example by thermal welding or ultrasonic welding), and during this step, the reservoir 6 is not filled with product.

[0220] Note that in an embodiment of the method according to the invention, each of the previously described embodiments 101 or 102 may include (before and / or during the previously described detection of the fluid level or the level of the plug 23):

[0221] - filling the reservoir 6 with the fluid 7 by the pipe 77 directly from the housing 13 to the reservoir 6 through at least one vent 133 (without passing through the bag 2), and / or,

[0222] - filling the reservoir 6 with the fluid 7 by the pipe 77 through the housing 13 preferably through the bag 2 to the reservoir 6 (the vent 133 is optional).

[0223] We will now describe Figure 8 a third embodiment of the device 103 and the filling method according to the invention, only describing the differences of the third embodiment of the device 103 and the filling method compared with Figures 1 to 3 the first embodiment of the device 101 and the method.

[0224] In this embodiment, there are no parts 132 and 232.

[0225] The outlet 24 is positioned transversely with respect to the vertical axis connecting the bag 2 and the reservoir 6.

[0226] In other words, the device 103 is arranged such that the fluid 7 exits from the outlet 24 substantially horizontally (within 20 degrees).

[0227] The wall 14 is not flexible and does not form a pouch, but is a rigid wall in which a piston slides, which will reduce the internal volume of the reservoir 6 when the fluid 7 exits the reservoir 6.

[0228] The method for filling the device 103 may include the same steps as the first embodiment of the filling method described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 However, the sensor 9 detects the level of the fluid 7 not through the opening 10 but through a part 89 of the device 103 that is transparent to the radiation used by the sensor 9 (also referred to as a cap 89 in this embodiment, which forms the inner wall of the housing 13), so that the surface 15 of the fluid 7 and / or the level 30 of the upper surface can be seen through the sensor 9. Therefore, preferably, within the same device 103, there is a part 89 that is transparent to the radiation used by the sensor 9 and a surface 15 that is opaque to the radiation used by the sensor 9.

[0229]

[0230] ​This principle also applies to the human eye and to parts 89 that are transparent to radiation in the wavelength range from 400 mm to 700 nm visible to the human eye and to surface 15 that is opaque to radiation in the wavelength range from 400 mm to 700 nm visible to the human eye.

[0231] A fourth embodiment of device 104 according to the invention and its filling method will now be described with reference to Figures 9 to 11 Only the differences between device 104 and the first embodiment of device 101 will be described. Figures 1 to 3 of device 101 will be described.

[0232] In this embodiment, there are no parts 132 and 232.

[0233] Outlet 24 is positioned laterally with respect to the vertical axis connecting bag 2 and reservoir 6.

[0234] In other words, device 104 is arranged such that fluid 7 exits horizontally from outlet 24.

[0235] In the specific case of device 104, opening 10 is different from the outlet 24 of the device.

[0236] In the specific case of device 104, the body portion 231 of plug 23 does not carry nor accommodate dispensing valve 5.

[0237] The method of filling device 104 may include:

[0238] - As Figure 10 shown, the same steps as in the first embodiment of the filling method described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 We note that

[0239] - As Figure 11 shown, the same steps as in the second embodiment of the filling method described with reference to Figures 4 to 7 described.

[0240] We will now describe a fifth embodiment of device 105 and its filling method according to the invention with reference to Figures 14 to 15 Only the differences between device 105 and the filling method of the fifth embodiment and the first embodiment of device 101 and method will be described. Figures 1 to 3 will be described.

[0241] In this embodiment 105, at least one vent 133 includes a plurality of vents 133. Each vent 133 connects the internal volume of reservoir 6 to the exterior of device 101 without passing through housing 13 and without passing through bag 2.

[0242] Each vent 133 is typically formed on the periphery of wall 14 that defines the internal volume of reservoir 6 and typically corresponds to a non-welded area of two welded membranes or walls that form the pouch.

[0243] In a sectional view through the reservoir 6, the bag 2, the housing 13 and each (or the) vent 133, each (or the) vent 133 is on the same side as the housing 13 with respect to the internal volume of the reservoir 6.

[0244] An embodiment of the method according to the invention comprises (before and / or during the previously described detection of the fluid level or the level of the plug 23) filling the reservoir 6 with fluid 7 via at least one vent 133 by means of a pipe 77, the at least one vent directly connecting the internal volume of the reservoir 6 to the housing 13 without passing through the bag 2.

[0245] It should also be noted that the fifth embodiment of the device 105 comprises openings 42 and 43 in the wall 22, so that when filling the reservoir 6 with fluid 7 by means of the pipe 77 or by any other means (for example, by dipping the wall 22 into a reservoir 6 filled with fluid 7), air or gas is allowed to pass through these openings 42, 43, on the one hand between the volume defined within the wall 22 and on the other hand the bag 2 or the rest of the reservoir 6.

[0246] These openings 42, 43 comprise:

[0247] - at least one upper opening 42 which is positioned as high as possible on the wall 22 with respect to the position of the wall 22 during filling, preferably on the wall 22 on the side of the plug 23 and / or the vent 133, and

[0248] - at least one lower opening 43 which is preferably positioned on the wall 22 opposite the plug 23 and / or the same vent 133.

[0249] These openings 42, 43 make it possible to remove (preferably completely) air or gas from the internal volume of the wall 22 by a flow (usually a flow of fluid 7) directed from one opening 43 to the other opening 42, thus preventing the formation of air bubbles or gas bubbles in this internal volume of the wall 22.

[0250] These openings 42, 43 are also present in the first embodiment of the device 101, even if they are not visible in the drawings of this embodiment 101 (since these drawings do not include a front view).

[0251] In all the previously described embodiments 101, 102, 103, 104, 105:

[0252] i) Thus, when filling the reservoir with fluid 7, each vent 133 makes it possible to expel air, thereby preventing air from accumulating in the area around and / or above the bag when the device according to the invention is oriented with its housing 13 positioned above the bag 2, and / or

[0253] ii) Refer to Figure 16a , the plug 23 and its housing 13 can be separated from the outlet 24 and the valve 5; in other words, the fluid can pass from the internal volume of the reservoir 6 to the outlet 24 and / or the valve 5 without passing through the plug 23 and / or the housing 13, and / or

[0254] iii) Refer to Figure 16b and Figure 16c , a variant of the devices 101, 102, 103, 104 or 105 may not include the bag 2 and / or the valve 5,

[0255] The reservoir 6 can be refilled with the available product 7, and the plug 23 can be removed from the end piece 89 by means of the threaded device 239. The plug 23 includes a refill valve or cap 50 (blocking the passage 237 through the plug 23), which is fixed to the closing part 49 to prevent the product from escaping when it is not connected to the connecting device 238 of the plug, and / or,

[0256] iv) Refer to Figures 17 to 23b and Figures 27 to 37 , a variant of the devices 101, 102, 103, 104 or 105 may have its reservoir 6, the volume of which is variable due to the movement of the piston 52 within the wall 53, and these walls (at least partially together with the piston 52) define the internal volume of the reservoir 6.

[0257] Regarding the above point iv), an embodiment of the method for manufacturing a product dispensing device according to the present invention may include (possibly in combination with the filling method described previously) the following steps:

[0258] - As Figure 19 shown, the piston 52 is placed or inserted into its inlet position at the inlet of the reservoir 6 in the wall 53 so as to maintain a region 56 for the passage of gas or air between the piston 52 and the wall 53 through at least one hollow or undulation 55 formed in the lid 66 as described below, and / or a hollow or undulation 54 at the assembly level of the bottom 66 at the inlet of the reservoir 6, and / or a discharge device 81 formed in the wall 53 on the piston side, and / or a discharge device 82 formed in the piston (more precisely, at the level of the lower lip 58a).

[0259] - Then, as Figure 20As shown, the gas is discharged from the reservoir 6 to the outside of the product dispensing device via the region 56; this discharge 67 can be carried out by suction or decompression or by creating a vacuum (preferably, a decompression of at least 0.5 bar relative to atmospheric pressure) in the space 60 located outside the product dispensing device by means of the tool 61. The tool 61 includes a seal 62 that is positioned on the outer periphery of the inlet of the reservoir 6 during suction or decompression or vacuum, from which the piston 52 protrudes or partially extends beyond the outer periphery of the inlet of the reservoir.

[0260] - However, it should be noted that this suction or decompression or vacuum is not always necessary, and the discharge can also be carried out by pressing the piston 52 to push it towards the inside of the reservoir 6 in order to discharge air or gas through the channel region 56 (thus without suction 67);

[0261] The gas channel region 56 can be formed, for example, by at least one discharge device 81 formed in the wall 53 on the side of the piston 52, and the discharge device is, for example:

[0262] - At least on the side of the piston 52 (i.e., the side oriented towards the piston) (as Figure 17 and Figure 23a shown) a hollow or undulation 581 on a part of the wall 53 in contact with the piston,

[0263] - A microstructure 571 (preferably including roughness or micro-grooves) on at least a part of the wall 53 in contact with the piston (as Figure 17 shown),

[0264] - A non-circular shape 591 of the wall 53 in the cross-sectional plane relative to the movement axis of the piston 52 along the wall 53 on the side of the piston 52 (as Figure 23b shown, and the non-circular shape is noted as elliptical),

[0265] - And / or formed by at least one discharge device 82 on at least a part of the piston 52 in contact with the wall 53, more precisely at the lower lip 58a (the lip is oriented towards the bottom of the device closest to the inlet of the reservoir 6, and the piston 52 is inserted into the reservoir 6 through this inlet), and the discharge device is, for example:

[0266] - A hollow or undulation 582 with a size generally greater than 1 mm formed in the piston 52 on the side of the wall 53, more precisely formed in at least one lip 58a of the piston 52 (as Figure 18c shown),

[0267] - A microstructure 572 (preferably including a frosted part or micro-grooves with a size generally less than 150 μm) formed in at least one lip 58a of the piston 52 (as Figure 18b shown),

[0268] - The non-circular shape of a lip 58a of the piston 52 (roundness deviation is generally greater than 300 μm),

[0269] Then the piston 52 (in its deep position) reaches a greater depth in the reservoir 6 than when the piston is positioned at the inlet of the reservoir 6, such that at least one lip of the piston 52 has passed through the region 56, as Figure 21 shown, and gas can no longer pass between the piston 52 and the wall 53 over at least one of the lips 58a or 58b. The piston 52 is provided with at least one lip that is arranged to ensure a seal for the fluid 7 between the piston 52 and the wall 53 outside the region 56. For this purpose, the rod 64 fixed to the bottom 66 of the piston 52 can be pressed (for example, using the part 63 of the tool 61 while maintaining suction or decompression or vacuum).

[0270] It should be noted that in the case of the discharge device 82, the region 56 moves with the piston 52 and thus is never passed by the piston. Different from the hollow part and the undulation 54 at the inlet of the reservoir 6, the discharge devices 81 and 82 are arranged such that due to their dimensions, gas or air can pass between the piston 52 and the wall 53, but very little or no fluid 7 (liquid, gel, cream, etc.) can pass between the piston 52 and the wall 53, at least in the deep region at the decompressed end of the piston 52. Such that when the piston 52 sinks sufficiently into the reservoir 6 until it contacts the fluid 7 to be dispensed, at least one joint (at least one lip) between the piston 52 and the wall 53 is sealed or almost sealed with respect to the fluid 7. Preferably, the channel region 56 includes at least one discharge device 81 formed in the wall 53 on the piston side, and each discharge device 81 is formed on the wall 53 only above a limited space region 65 of the wall 53, thereby limiting the spatial extent of the air channel region 56. In this case, preferably, the piston 52 does not include the discharge device 82, and at least one lip of the piston 52 in contact with the wall 53 of the reservoir 6 is smooth and circular (as Figure 18a shown), and is even airtight to air or gas (towards the bag 2) beyond the region 65. The gas tightness or air tightness of the piston 52 means that at a pressure difference of 0.2 bar between the inside and outside of the reservoir at 20 °C (the orifice 41 is blocked), less than 0.05 cm 3The minimum seal for air leakage of / s. When filling the reservoir with air or gas, the piston does not seal in region 65 but in a region deeper than region 65 towards the bag 2 because the discharge device 81 is limited in the depth of the reservoir 6. Usually, the height 65 of the discharge device 81 from the entrance of the reservoir is less than 20 mm, but this height can be greater, for example, in the case where different capacities are desired for the same reservoir height. In this case, only a part (core) of the mold forming the reservoir is modified.

[0271] Reference Figure 18a , it should be noted that the piston includes a wall 58b opposite to the wall 58a, and the wall 58b is provided with protrusions 57 which are arranged to guide the piston by forming a channel region 56. When the piston 52 is pushed in, air and product can pass between the protrusions. In a variant not shown, the piston 52 includes a sealed lower lip 58a and an upper lip 58b (i.e., without the discharge device 82), and in the pushed-in position of the piston, the lip 58a or both lips 58a and 58b can be airtight outside the region 65.

[0272] Reference Figure 22 , in addition to the lower lip 58a, the piston 52 can include another lip 59, which thereby improves the seal between the piston 52 and the wall 53. The two lips 58a and 59 are basically oriented in the same direction, that is, both are towards the bottom of the product dispensing device, that is, both are towards the entrance of the reservoir 6 through which the piston 52 is inserted into the reservoir 6. After the piston 52 is inserted into the reservoir 6, the entrance of the reservoir 6 is hidden by a lid 66 (which is not airtight, gas-tight or fluid-tight with respect to the fluid 7 air), and the piston 52 is inserted into the reservoir 6 through this entrance of the reservoir 6. This lid 66 can be arranged at the entrance of the reservoir 6 simultaneously with the insertion of the piston 52 into the reservoir 6. For this purpose, the rod 64 can accommodate the lid 66 by passing through a hole (preferably a triangular-shaped hole) formed in the lid 66, such that the rod 64 is tightened in this hole, thereby carrying the lid 66.

[0273] Reference Figures 27 to 37, each variant of devices 101, 102, 103, 104 or 105 may include a device 44 as follows: the device is arranged to prevent or limit the piston 52 from returning to the unsealed area 65 of the piston 52 (i.e., the inlet position of the piston 52) under a pressure reduction of 0.4 bar or even 0.8 bar relative to atmospheric pressure when the piston 52 reaches a sealing area deeper than area 65 towards the bag 2 (i.e., the deep position of the piston 52), or preferably at least limit the return of the piston 52 to the unsealed area 65 to a height less than 30% of the height of area 65 (the height is measured along the axis of the reservoir) under a pressure reduction of 0.8 bar relative to atmospheric pressure.

[0274] Preferably, the device is arranged to prevent the piston 52 from returning to the unsealed area 65 under a pressure reduction of 0.8 bar relative to atmospheric pressure.

[0275] The device 44 may take several forms.

[0276] In the first variant of reference Figures 27 to 30 or the third variant of reference Figures 34 to 37 , the device 44 includes:

[0277] - Protrusions 45, each of these protrusions is carried either by the lid 66 (reference Figures 27 to 30 of the first variant) or by the piston 52 (reference Figures 34 to 37 of the third variant), and

[0278] - Walls 46, each of these walls is carried either by the piston 52 (reference Figures 27 to 30 of the first variant) or by the lid 66 (reference Figures 34 to 37 of the third variant),

[0279] such that:

[0280] a) Preferably, reference Figure 29 or Figure 36 , after the piston 52 is inserted through the inlet of the reservoir 6, but before the piston 52 reaches the sealing area deeper than area 65 towards the bag 2 (referred to as "deep") of the fluid 7 to be dispensed, by contacting and deforming and / or pressing the protrusions 45 and / or the walls 46 (the protrusions 45 and the walls 46 are substantially perpendicular to the axis parallel to the direction of insertion of the piston 52 into the reservoir 6), so that the protrusions and the walls are concentric with respect to the axis parallel to the direction of insertion of the piston 52 into the reservoir, and

[0281] b) Reference Figure 30 or Figure 37, after the piston 52 has been inserted through the inlet of the reservoir 6, but after the piston 52 has reached the sealing region deeper than the region 65 (for the fluid 7 to be dispensed) towards the bag 2, the protrusion 45 and the wall 46 face each other along an axis parallel to the direction in which the piston 52 is inserted into the reservoir 6, such that they lock to prevent the piston 52 from returning to the unsealed region 65 (to the fluid 7 to be dispensed). It should be noted that in Figures 34 to 37 In a third variant, the rod 64 carries the surface 640, and the protrusion 45 and the wall 46 face each other on this surface 640, thereby forming an angle, and comprising a part parallel to the direction in which the piston 52 is inserted into the reservoir 6 and a part perpendicular or inclined (but not parallel) to the direction in which the piston 52 is inserted into the reservoir 6.

[0282] The feature of a) is not mandatory, especially when the lid 66 is positioned after the piston 52 has reached a sealing region deeper than the region 65 (for the fluid 7 to be dispensed).

[0283] The lid 66 is preferably held (e.g., by clamping or snap - fitting) to the reservoir 6.

[0284] In reference Figures 31 to 33 In a second variant, the device 44 comprises:

[0285] - a lip 58a carried by the piston 52, and

[0286] - an additional thickness 47 formed on the wall 53.

[0287] The additional thickness 47 is arranged such that:

[0288] a) Preferably, in reference Figure 32 or Figure 33 , after the piston 52 has been inserted through the inlet of the reservoir 6, but before the piston 52 has reached a sealing region deeper than the region 65 (referred to as "deep") towards the bag 2,

[0289] the lip 58a is moved away from the wall 53 to create an air passage 56 between the lip 58a and the wall 53, and

[0290] b) In reference Figure 34 , after the piston 52 has been inserted through the inlet of the reservoir 6, but after the piston 52 has reached a sealing region deeper than the region 65 (for the fluid 7 to be dispensed) towards the bag 2, a stop for the lip 58a is formed such that the lip 58a and the additional thickness 47 face each other along an axis parallel to the direction in which the piston 52 is inserted into the reservoir 6, so that they lock to prevent the piston 52 from returning to the unsealed region 65 (for the fluid 7 to be dispensed).

[0291] We will now refer to Figures 24 to 26To describe a sixth embodiment of the device 106 according to the present invention, only the differences of the sixth embodiment of the device 106 relative to Figures 1 to 3 the first embodiment of the device 101 and the method are described.

[0292] In this embodiment, the device includes a valve element 70 which is arranged to bear against an end piece 89 surrounding and including the outlet 24 so as to block the outlet 24 in an airtight or non-airtight manner. The valve element 70 includes a first part 74 provided with a nozzle 72 which is movable relative to a second part 73 by means of a hinge 73, and the second part is fixed relative to the end piece 89 or at least capable of translating relative to the end piece 89. The second part 73 is provided with a housing or nozzle 75 directed towards the outlet 24 of the end piece 89, and the housing or nozzle is arranged to cooperate with the nozzle or housing 76 of the end piece 89 respectively. Preferably, the housing is formed in the end piece 89 and the nozzle is formed on the part 73.

[0293] In the fixed version, the part 73 is fixed relative to the end piece 89, and the device is arranged to allow the gas (but not the product) from the bag 2 to be transferred to the outside of the device via the non-sealed cooperation of the nozzle 75 and the housing 76.

[0294] In the mobile version, the part 73 can translate relative to the end piece, and the part 73 includes two positions:

[0295] - an open position and a closed position, the open position allowing the gas to pass from the bag 2 to the outside of the device at the level of the cooperation between the nozzle and the housing, while the closed position does not allow this, so that the closed position is completely watertight, and the closed position is maintained by a clip 78.

[0296] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the examples just described, and many arrangements can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0297] For example, for all the embodiments described previously:

[0298] - It should be noted that with reference to Figure 10 , all embodiments can be carried out without the surface 15; in fact, the sensor 9 can be arranged to visualize and / or monitor the level of the fluid 7 in the device according to the present invention, and monitor the progress of the level, and / or - the part 89 can be transparent to the radiation used by the sensor 9 (or the eye), while the surface 15 is opaque to the radiation used by the sensor 9 (or the eye), and the sensor (or the eye) visualizes the surface 15 through the part 89, and / or

[0299] - Portion 89 can be transparent to the radiation used by sensor 9 (or the eye), and the sensor (or the eye) visualizes the level 30 of fluid 7 through portion 89, and / or

[0300] - The major section 141 is not necessarily constant, and / or the minor section 142 is not necessarily constant. For example, there can be a major section 141 and / or a minor section 142 as follows: The major section is a frustum of a cone that tapers towards the minor section 142, and the minor section is a frustum of a cone that increases towards the major section 141. Similarly, the transition portion 143 does not necessarily include a step, but if at least one of the two sections is a frustum of a cone, the transition portion can be angled between the major section 141 and the minor section 142, or if the major section 141 and the minor section 142 are both frustums of a cone with the same apex angle value, the transition portion can be completely straight and unbroken, and / or

[0301] - The dispensing valve 5 may not be present, and in particular, the valve 5 can be replaced by a removable lid or a removable shutter, and / or

[0302] - The plug 23 can include a lid or a refill valve 50 (in particular, if the device according to the invention forms a refill) or a lid perforator, and / or

[0303] - The plug 23 can be screwed into the housing 13.

[0304] When the sensor is arranged to see the surface 15 or 30 through the opening 10 or the outlet 24, the radiation used by the sensor 9 has any frequency, which can be infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, ultrasonic, X-ray, etc.

[0305] When the sensor is arranged to see the surface 15 or 30 through the portion 89, the radiation used by the sensor 9 generally has a frequency greater than 16,000 Hz; preferably, the radiation used by the sensor 9 is generally ultrasonic (usually having a frequency between 16,000 hertz (Hz) and 10,000,000 Hz) or X-ray (usually having a frequency between 10 16 Hz and 10 20 Hz).

[0306] Of course, the different features, forms, variations, and embodiments of the present invention can be interrelated in various combinations, as long as they are compatible or non-exclusive with each other. In particular, all the variations and embodiments described above can be combined with each other.

Claims

1. A product dispensing device, comprising: - an opening (10) that communicates with the exterior of the device, - a plug (23), - a plug housing (13), The device is arranged to discharge fluid and / or gas from a fluid bag (2) and / or reservoir (6) to the opening through the plug housing at least in the absence of the plug, characterized in that: The plug housing (13) includes at least one body portion (131), The plug includes at least one body portion (231), The body portion of the plug housing is arranged to receive the body portion of the plug such that: - In a first insertion position where the plug (23) is inserted from the opening (10) into the plug housing (13), fluid and / or gas can escape from the plug housing (13) through the opening along and / or around the plug, and - In a second insertion position where the plug (23) is inserted from the opening (10) into the plug housing (13), since the plug is further pushed or moved into the plug housing (13) compared to the first insertion position, fluid and / or gas can no longer escape from the plug housing (13) through the opening along and / or around the plug (23), The device includes the bag (2) and a dispensing orifice (51) that connects the internal volume of the bag to the internal volume of a channel, The bag (2) is a deformable bag having an internal volume arranged to contain fluid.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The body portion (131) of the plug housing includes a large section (141) and a small section (142) smaller than the large section (141), the large section (141) being oriented towards the opening (10), and the small section (142) being oriented towards the bag (2) and / or the reservoir (6).

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The body portion (231) of the plug (23) includes a side cavity (1) arranged to allow fluid and / or gas to pass along and / or around the plug (23) in the first insertion position of the plug and to seal and store fluid and / or gas in the second insertion position of the plug.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The side cavity (1) is defined between two sealing rings (11, 12) carried by the body portion (231) of the plug (23).

5. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, - The plug housing includes the following two communicating parts: ○ The body part (131) of the plug housing oriented towards the opening (10), ○ A thinning portion (132), the thinning portion being oriented towards the bag (2) and / or the reservoir (6), the thinning portion having a smaller cross-section than the body portion of the plug housing (13). - The plug includes the following two engaging parts: ○ The main body portion (231) of the plug, ○ finger portion (232), the finger portion having a section smaller than the body portion of the plug The finger portion (232) of the plug (23) is arranged to be inserted into the thinned portion (132) of the plug housing such that at least in the first insertion position of the plug (23), the finger portion (232) discharges fluid and / or gas from the thinned portion towards the opening (10).

6. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the opening (10) is the outlet (24) of the device, - the main body part (232) of the plug bears a dispensing valve (5), and / or the main body part of the plug housing accommodates the dispensing valve (5), the dispensing valve allowing fluid to pass from the interior of the bag and / or the reservoir to the outlet in the open state, and the dispensing valve not allowing fluid to pass from the interior of the bag (2) and / or the reservoir (6) to the outlet (24) in the closed state.

7. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug housing (13) comprises clamping means or snap-fastening means arranged to hold the plug (23) in its first insertion position.

8. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device comprises the bag and the reservoir, and the device further comprises: a feed orifice (41) connecting the internal volume of the bag (2) to the internal volume of the reservoir (6); and a feed valve (4), the feed valve allowing fluid to pass from the reservoir to the interior of the bag in the open state, and the feed valve not allowing fluid to pass from the reservoir to the interior of the bag (2) in the closed state.

9. A method of filling the device according to claim 1, in which: - when the plug is inserted in the first insertion position in the plug housing (13) or not inserted in the plug housing at all, the bag (2) and / or the reservoir (6) is filled with fluid, and ○ Cause fluid and / or gas to rise from the bag or the reservoir towards the opening, preferably by pressing the bag and / or the reservoir to reduce the volume so as to cause fluid and / or gas to rise from the bag or the reservoir towards the opening, and / or, ○ Push or move the plug in the plug housing (13) so as to move the plug from a first insertion position of the plug to a second insertion position of the plug.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that ○ Cause fluid and / or gas to rise from the bag or the reservoir towards the opening (10), ○ Then, the level of the fluid in the plug housing (13) or the level of the plug (23) is detected by a sensor (9) to be higher than a predetermined threshold. Preferably, the sensor is an optical sensor or an ultrasonic sensor. ○ Then, the plug (23) is pushed or moved in the plug housing (13) so as to move the plug from the first insertion position to the second insertion position.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that ○ Cause the fluid and / or gas to rise from the bag or the reservoir towards the opening, preferably when the plug is not inserted into the plug housing at all, and preferably by pressing the bag and / or the reservoir to reduce its volume so as to cause the fluid and / or gas to rise from the bag or the reservoir towards the opening. ○ Then, the fluid level in the plug housing is detected by the sensor (9) to be higher than a predetermined threshold value. Preferably, when the plug (23) is not inserted into the plug housing (13) at all, the fluid level in the plug housing is detected by the sensor (9) to be higher than a predetermined threshold value. Preferably, the sensor is an optical sensor or an ultrasonic sensor. ○ Then, the plug (23) is pushed or moved into the plug housing so as to move the plug from the outside of the housing to the first insertion position, such that the volume of the gas in the housing (13) is replaced by the volume of the plug and / or the volume of the fluid in the housing, and the gas in the housing (13) escapes from the plug housing through the opening along and / or around the plug (23). ○ Then, the plug is pushed or moved in the plug housing (13) so as to move the plug from the first insertion position to the second insertion position.

12. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that ○ Cause the fluid and / or gas to rise from the bag (2) or the reservoir (6) towards the opening (10), preferably by pressing the bag and / or the reservoir to reduce its volume so that the fluid and / or gas rises from the bag (2) or the reservoir (6) towards the opening (10), and when the plug is inserted in the first insertion position in the plug housing, cause the volume of gas in the housing (13) to be replaced by the volume of the plug (23) and / or the volume of fluid in the housing, and the gas in the housing escapes from the plug housing through the opening along and / or around the plug, ○ Then, when the plug is inserted into the first insertion position in the plug housing, the level of the plug is detected by a sensor (9) to be higher than a predetermined threshold value. Preferably, the sensor is an optical sensor or an ultrasonic sensor. ○ Then, push or move the plug in the plug housing (13) so as to move the plug from the first insertion position to the second insertion position.

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