Container lid for a container as well as method and device for filling a container

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a container lid for a container for holding liquid or pasty products, comprising a lid body which can be secured over a container opening on a container housing of the container, and comprising a manually operable dosing dispenser device with which, upon actuation of an actuating element of the dosing dispenser device, a predeterminable quantity of the product can be dispensed from the container housing through a product dispensing opening of the dosing dispenser device.

[0002] Such container lids with a manually actuated dosing dispenser are known in various designs, e.g. in EP 1 481 735 A2, in CN 112 246 468 A and in US 3 412 937, and are suitable for the metered dispensing of a liquid or pasty product from a container. Such dosing dispensers can be used, for example, in soap dispensers in which an actuating element is pressed or displaced, thereby conveying a predetermined amount of soap out of the container and dispensed through a product dispensing opening. The product dispensing opening is often arranged at one end of the actuating element, with a product dispensing channel connecting an interior of the container with the product dispensing opening in the actuating element.

[0003] The product dispensing channel leads from the product dispensing opening into a dosing dispensing chamber of the dosing dispensing device, which is arranged in the interior of the container. The dosing dispensing chamber has at least one chamber opening through which the product located in the interior of the container can flow into the dosing dispensing chamber. Upon actuation of the actuating element, the chamber opening is closed. Simultaneously, a displacement element of the dosing dispensing device penetrates the dosing dispensing chamber and displaces a portion of the product quantity located in the dosing dispensing chamber, which is pushed through the product dispensing channel and dispensed through the product dispensing opening. As soon as the actuating element is released and no longer actuated, the actuating element is returned to an unactuated initial state by a spring device.In this case, the product dispensing channel is closed, the chamber opening of the dosing dispenser chamber is opened and the displacement element is moved out of the dosing dispenser chamber so that the amount of product dispensed during actuation can flow from the interior of the container into the dosing dispenser chamber and the dosing dispenser device is ready for a new actuation and the resulting further dispensing of a further amount of product from the container.

[0004] Such dosing dispensers are widely used in practice and are suitable for numerous different applications, including the measured dispensing of various products. The products can be liquid or pasty, with "liquid" referring to a product with a viscosity comparable to that of water, and "pastey" referring to a product with a viscosity higher than that of water. A pasty product is therefore thicker or less fluid than water.

[0005] A dosing dispenser can be manufactured and assembled cost-effectively from a few individual parts. Many dosing dispensers can be used reliably and maintenance-free over a long period of time. Most dosing dispensers are resistant to common mechanical stresses. The design and dimensions, especially of the dosing dispenser chamber, allow different amounts of product to be dispensed with a single actuation. The dosing dispenser can therefore be easily adapted to different products and containers, or container sizes.

[0006] Dosing dispensers known from practice have a dosing dispenser chamber with a chamber opening, the arrangement of which relative to the container lid and thus to the surrounding container during the container's service life does not change. The chamber opening can therefore be arranged in an area within the interior of the container that is located at the bottom when the container is used as intended, so that the amount of product in the interior of the container accumulates in the area of ​​the chamber opening even as the container is increasingly emptied, and a substantial or almost complete emptying of the container is possible with the dosing dispenser device. In many cases, the dosing dispenser chamber and thus also the chamber opening are arranged in the area of ​​the container lid or close to it.The chamber opening is then often connected to a suction pipe, which usually extends to the bottom of the container or at least close to the bottom of the container, in order to be able to reach into the product residue accumulating at the bottom as the container is increasingly emptied and to be able to suck a quantity of product into the dosing dispenser chamber when the actuating element is actuated.

[0007] Products are known that consist of two or more product components. With some products, demixing and separation of the various product components does not occur or occurs only so slowly that during a normal service life of a container filled with the mixed product there is no appreciable demixing and thus, even over a long service life, no appreciable inhomogeneity of the product occurs during product dispensing using the dosing dispenser. In contrast, other products can be composed of two or more product components that demix after a comparatively short period of time, which after a certain time impairs the dispensing of the product using the dosing dispenser and no longer dispenses the desired homogeneously mixed product, but predominantly a demixed product component.

[0008] For relatively thin products, remixing and homogenization of the product components can be enforced, for example, by briefly shaking the container before activating the actuating element and dispensing the product with the dosing dispenser. Especially for pasty and very viscous products, remixing the individual product components by appropriately shaking or moving the container is comparatively laborious and, even with a longer shaking time, often does not result in the desired or sufficient mixing and subsequent dispensing of a sufficiently homogeneous product.

[0009] It is therefore considered an object of the present invention to design a container lid with a dosing dispenser device in such a way that when the dosing dispenser device is actuated, a product that is as homogeneous as possible is dispensed.

[0010] This object is achieved in that the container lid, when used as intended, engages the container with a mixing device for the product in the container, wherein the mixing device has a displaceable mixing element which is operatively connected to the actuating element of the dosing dispenser device and is displaced by actuating the actuating element.

[0011] According to the invention, the mixing device is arranged on the container lid.

[0012] When the container lid is used as intended, the mixing device is located inside the container. This intended use includes not only closing the container with the container lid, but also performing a mixing process with the mixing device, which thoroughly mixes the product inside the container without the container lid having to be secured to the container.

[0013] By moving the mixing element, a corresponding displacement and circulation of the product located in the interior of the container is forced, thereby causing the product to mix. The operative connection of the movable mixing element with the likewise movable actuating element ensures that each time the actuating element is actuated to dispense a small amount of product from the container, the product quantity in the interior of the container is simultaneously mixed. This leads to a high level of user convenience, as no separate mixing of the product is required, for example, before removing the product. In contrast to separate mixing, which must be effected, for example, by shaking the container before removing the product, mixing of the product cannot be forgotten with the inventive design of the container lid.Each product dispensed using the dosing dispenser simultaneously causes the product in the container to be mixed again.

[0014] The operative connection between the actuating element and the displaceable mixing element can be designed in such a way that a single actuation of the actuating element already results in sufficient mixing of the product in the container and the quantity of product dispensed from the container by the dosing dispenser is sufficiently homogenized for the intended use of the product.

[0015] The manner in which the mixing element is displaced can correspond to the displacement of the actuating element, allowing a rigid connection between the actuating element and the mixing element. For example, the mixing element can be secured laterally to a rod that is rigidly connected to the actuating element and aligned such that the rod with the mixing element extends from the container lid into the interior of the container. It is also conceivable for the mixing element to be mounted rotatably about a rotational axis, and for a displacement of the actuating element along the rotational axis to be converted into a rotational movement of the mixing element about the rotational axis.

[0016] The mixing element can, for example, be tongue-shaped or paddle-shaped. The mixing element can be essentially flat or have a complex three-dimensional shape. The mixing element is displaced along a predetermined mixing element trajectory within the interior of the container by actuating the actuating element of the dosing dispenser device, thereby displacing a portion of the product located in the region of this mixing element trajectory, thereby causing the product in the interior of the container to be thoroughly mixed. The shape of the mixing element is predetermined such that the movement of the mixing element within the container results in the most efficient possible mixing of the product in the container.

[0017] The mixing device can also comprise a plurality of mixing elements that can be displaced uniformly or relative to one another by actuating the actuating element. A mixing element can also be operatively connected to the actuating element via a gear mechanism, so that a displacement of the actuating element along an actuating element trajectory causes a displacement of the mixing element along a mixing element trajectory that is shorter or, preferably, significantly longer than the actuating element trajectory.

[0018] For many applications, it is advantageous if the mixing device is arranged or mounted on the container lid and can be moved together with the container lid. In order to carry out a mixing process, the container lid can be brought closer to the container and then moved so that a mixing element of the mixing device projects into the interior of the container and is displaced by the movement of the container lid in the interior in order to mix the product contained therein. It is also conceivable that the mixing device is arranged in the container and the container lid can be brought closer to the container so that the actuating element of the

[0019] Dosing dispenser device is brought into operative connection with the mixing device located in the interior of the container.

[0020] According to the invention, the dosing dispenser device has a suction tube extending away from the lid body for the product to be dispensed through the product dispensing opening. According to the invention, the mixing element is displaceably mounted at an end region of the suction tube remote from the lid body.

[0021] In order to be able to empty the interior of the container as completely as possible using the dosing dispenser arranged on the container lid, an intake pipe extending away from the lid body is advantageous, which protrudes far into the interior of the container and optionally extends to a bottom of the container. A intake opening for the product to be dispensed with the dosing dispenser can expediently be formed on the front side at an open end of the intake pipe or laterally in an end region of the intake pipe remote from the lid body. Advantageously, the mixing element is arranged at the end region of the intake pipe remote from the lid body and can be displaced there in order to be able to reliably mix the remaining amount of product even as the container becomes increasingly empty.The arrangement and design of the mixing element, which is displaceably mounted on the end region of the suction pipe, can be specified such that mixing of the product takes place in particular in a region around the suction opening, so that a quantity of product mixed during actuation of the actuating element is sucked in and conveyed through the suction pipe into the dosing dispenser chamber.

[0022] According to the invention, the mixing element extends in the longitudinal direction of the intake tube over a suction opening formed in the intake tube for the product to be dispensed. In this way, it can be achieved that, above all, an area surrounding the suction opening is effectively mixed upon actuation of the mixing element, and in particular that a suction area around the intake tube contains a well-mixed product. It can also be provided that several mixing elements are formed along the intake tube, which are displaced by actuation of the actuating element of the dosing dispenser device, thereby causing the product to be thoroughly mixed throughout the entire interior of the container.

[0023] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the inventive concept, the mixing device has a displaceably mounted mixing element sleeve, which is arranged coaxially to the intake pipe and is operatively connected to the actuating element, such that upon actuation of the actuating element, the mixing element sleeve is displaced relative to the intake pipe. The mixing element sleeve can be displaced or shifted back and forth either in the axial direction and thus along a direction predetermined by the intake pipe. It is also conceivable and advantageous for many containers, or for many products, that the mixing element sleeve is set into a rotational movement by actuation of the actuating element and is rotated relative to the intake pipe.By means of a suitable transmission or a mechanical gear device, it can be achieved that a short displacement of the actuating element causes a rotational movement of the mixing element sleeve, possibly comprising several complete revolutions, of the mixing element sleeve and thus of the mixing elements arranged thereon. It is also conceivable for the mixing element sleeve to perform both an axial displacement and a rotational movement during a complete actuation of the actuating element. The displacement of the mixing element sleeve can occur simultaneously along an axial direction and in the circumferential direction, or individual displacement sections can be specified in which predominantly or exclusively an axial displacement or a rotational movement of the mixing element sleeve takes place.

[0024] A single mixing element can be rigidly attached to the mixing element sleeve. It is also conceivable for the mixing element to be connected to the mixing element sleeve via a joint or an operative connection, and for a displacement of the mixing element sleeve to cause a different displacement within the interior of the container. Multiple mixing elements can also be arranged or formed on the mixing element sleeve.

[0025] For many liquid and pasty products, it is considered advantageous for the mixing element to be pivotably mounted about a displacement axis extending away from the lid body. It has been shown that circumferential displacement of the mixing element can result in comparatively effective mixing of the product in the area around the mixing element. It is also conceivable and advantageous for corresponding applications for the mixing element to be displaceable along a helical line within the container. In this way, a volume within the interior of the container extending in the axial direction along the displacement axis can be traversed by the mixing element, and the product located in this area can thereby be mixed.

[0026] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the inventive concept, the mixing element comprises at least one mixing blade extending along a helical line. A mixing blade shaped in this way forms a mixing element that, even when displaced exclusively in the axial direction or exclusively in the circumferential direction, causes adjacent product quantities to be displaced both circumferentially and simultaneously in the axial direction within the interior of the container. In this way, particularly efficient mixing of the product in the container can be achieved without the need for a structurally complex and elaborate operative connection between the usually linearly displaceable actuating element on the one hand and the mixing element on the other.The mixing lamella, which runs along a helical line, can extend circumferentially only over a portion of the circumference. It is also possible for the mixing lamella to extend circumferentially over the entire circumference or to be longer in the circumferential direction than the entire circumference of the container.

[0027] The mixing lamella can be flat and extend radially from a displacement axis to an outer circumferential edge of the mixing lamella. It is optionally provided and advantageous with a view to the most efficient mixing of the product located in the interior that the at least one mixing lamella is mounted at a radial distance from a displacement axis. Such a mixing lamella is therefore essentially band-shaped and runs along a helical line at a radial distance around a displacement axis. The displacement of such a band-shaped mixing lamella can take place along an axial direction of the displacement axis or in the circumferential direction around the displacement axis. The mixing lamella can be flat or straight in the radial direction. It is also conceivable for the mixing lamella to have a curvature in the radial direction.Curved or angled edge areas of the mixing lamella can also be provided.

[0028] Instead of a helically extending mixing blade, one or more mixing elements can be provided, each of which is flat and protrudes in a tongue-like or paddle-like manner from a mixing element attachment that expediently runs along a displacement axis. Each individual mixing element can also have a complex shape and, for example, have a curvature or bevel in the edge regions or have protruding formations that may protrude from the mixing element in different directions. A mixing element can also have a convex or concave curvature.

[0029] Advantageously, the mixing element is made of a material or is coated with a material that has the lowest possible adhesion to the product filled into the container. In this way, it can be prevented that, as the container is increasingly emptied, product residues adhere to the mixing element in the areas of the container's interior that are no longer completely filled with product and dry out over time. Particularly when using multiple mixing elements, each with a complex shape, a significant portion of the product could adhere and dry out, making it no longer available for dispensing by the dosing dispenser.It would then be almost impossible to prevent dried or dried-out product residues from being detached from the mixing element during a subsequent mixing process and then dispensed from the container via the dosing dispenser. By designing the mixing element with the lowest possible adhesive effect for the product, such adverse effects can be avoided during the gradual emptying of the container.

[0030] It may be appropriate to cover a suction opening for transferring the product from the interior of the container into the dosing dispenser chamber with a close-meshed grid or net or with a membrane permeable to the product in order to prevent larger particles from penetrating the dosing dispenser chamber through the suction opening and being dispensed when the actuating element is actuated.

[0031] The invention also relates to a method for filling a container with a liquid or pasty product, wherein the product is introduced into the container through a container opening in a filling step using a filling device and the filled container is then closed with a container lid.

[0032] Numerous methods are known from practice, e.g. in WO 2007 / 082711 A2 or EP 0 402 735 A1, with which a container can be filled with a liquid or pasty product in a partially or fully automated manner. In many cases, the container is brought under a filling device with a filling nozzle and the liquid or pasty product is poured into the container from the filling nozzle. The filling nozzle can either be arranged directly above the container opening or protrude slightly through the container opening into the interior of the container in order to prevent a portion of the product from flowing laterally past the container opening or sticking to a container edge surrounding the container opening during the filling process.

[0033] Once the container has been filled with the specified amount of product, a container lid is usually attached to the container using a container lid handling device, thereby closing the container opening used for filling the container. The container opening used for filling can then also be used to remove the product from the filled container. For this purpose, the container lid can, for example, be screwed onto a screw thread formed on the container and unscrewed when required in order to remove a quantity of the product in the container through the then opened container opening. With other container lids, a closure cap can be folded open or pulled off to expose a removal opening in the container lid.Container lids are also known which have a dosing dispenser device with the aid of which a predetermined amount of the product can be dispensed by actuating the dosing dispenser device.

[0034] For some products it is necessary that the product filled into the container is thoroughly mixed before it is closed. Mixing can be particularly advantageous or even necessary if the product is composed of several product components that are filled into the container one after the other. To mix the product, the container can either be closed with the container lid and then moved along a predetermined mixing trajectory in order to mix the product in the container. It is also known that instead or in addition a mixing device is introduced into the interior of the filled container and the product contained therein is mixed with the mixing device. After the mixing process, the mixing device is removed from the container and the container is closed with the container lid.

[0035] Such a process, already known in practice, can be carried out cost-effectively and fully automated, particularly when a large number of similar containers are to be filled with the same product. The mixing device fed from an already mixed container can then be directly introduced into the next container and used to mix the same product contained in this next container. However, such a process is often associated with considerable effort and corresponding costs if different products are to be filled into successive containers that are to be mixed.In this case, it is often necessary to clean the mixing device between two consecutive mixing processes to prevent a portion of a product from a first, already mixed container, which remains adhering to the mixing device after the mixing process in the first container, from subsequently being introduced into a second container that has yet to be mixed. Particularly in the case of small quantities of individual product components, which may also be cost-intensive, the proportion of individual product components that adhere to the mixing device and must be removed from it by such cleaning processes and therefore cannot be filled into the containers can be high compared to the total quantity of product components filled, thus further increasing filling costs.

[0036] It is therefore considered an object of the present invention to design a method for filling a container, which is already known in practice, in such a way that successive filling processes can be carried out as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible, in which different products are filled in successive filling processes.

[0037] This object is achieved in that the product filled into the container is mixed in a mixing step, wherein the container lid is brought into operative connection with a mixing device in an interior of the container or the container lid has a mixing device with a mixing element which is introduced into an interior of the container during the mixing step, and in that a mixing element of the mixing device is displaced in the interior of the container before the container lid is fixed to the container and the container opening is thereby closed. The mixing device, which is used to mix the product in the container, is either already located in the container or it is arranged or formed on the container lid, which is then fixed to the container in question and thereby closes the container opening.In both cases, only the mixing device assigned to the respective container is used for a mixing process in a container. Subsequent cleaning of the mixing device is not necessary, as the mixing device remains attached to the container or in the interior of the container.

[0038] Since the mixing device remains in the interior of the container after the mixing step, it can be ruled out that any product quantities adhering to the mixing device could be discharged from the container during the filling process and lost during the filling process. Particularly when filling a small container with a small volume of a valuable product, or a product composed of valuable product components, the proportion of product loss during the filling process can be greatly reduced, allowing the filling process to be carried out very cost-effectively and efficiently.

[0039] Since the mixing device is attached or formed on the container lid, and no separate handling of the mixing device on the one hand and the container lid during the subsequent closing of the container on the other hand is required during the filling process, the filling process can be carried out and completed very quickly. Furthermore, fewer components are required for a device with which the filling process can be carried out automatically.

[0040] In order to achieve the fastest and most efficient mixing of the product in the interior of the container, it is provided that in the mixing step the container lid with the mixing device projecting into the interior of the container is rotated about a rotational axis. The rotational axis expediently corresponds to a central axis of the container running through the container opening. In a container with a substantially rotationally symmetrical shape, the rotational axis of the mixing device can correspond to the rotational axis of the container shape. It is also possible, for example, for the container opening to be off-center or for the container lid to be arranged on the container opening in such a way that the rotational axis of the mixing device does not run symmetrically within the surrounding container.

[0041] It is also conceivable that the mixing device extending into the interior of the container is not rotated about a rotational axis, but merely performs several consecutive pivoting movements around a pivot axis. Furthermore, the mixing device can also be displaced linearly along a displacement axis and thus, for example, be moved back and forth several times during one actuation of the actuating device.

[0042] The method according to the invention is optionally particularly suitable for carrying out at least two product component filling steps consecutively in the filling step, each of which introduces a product component into the container. The at least two product components can be, for example, pasty materials that would not mix or would only mix insufficiently without subsequent mixing. A mixing step then ensures that the two product components are sufficiently mixed and that a product manufactured from the two or more product components has sufficiently homogeneous properties after the filling process.

[0043] Advantageously, a mixing step is performed between two consecutive product component filling steps. This allows for particularly efficient and thorough mixing of the individual product components in the container with comparatively little effort.

[0044] The invention further relates to a device for filling a container with a liquid or pasty product, wherein the device has a filling device for filling an interior of the container with the product, and wherein the device is designed such that the container and a mixing device can be displaced relative to one another such that a mixing element of the mixing device projects into the interior of the container and the mixing element of the mixing device is displaced in the interior of the container. As with the filling methods described above, numerous devices are known in practice, e.g. in WO 89 / 07294 A1, in WO 2007 / 082711 A2 or in EP 0 402 735 A1, with which a container can be filled with a product.The container is positioned relative to a filling device in such a way that a quantity of product, for example, discharged from a filling nozzle, is introduced into the interior of the container. The container can then be closed with an associated container lid. If the product filled into the container is to be mixed with the container lid before being closed, a mixing element of a mixing device can be brought into the interior of the container and moved therein to thoroughly mix the product in the container. The mixing element is then removed from the container, and the thoroughly mixed container is closed with the container lid.

[0045] The use of a mixing device or a mixing element for mixing several consecutively filled containers can be implemented cost-effectively and automatically if a large number of similar containers are to be filled, each with the same product. However, if consecutive filling processes for different products are to be carried out using the same mixing device, it is regularly necessary to clean the mixing device between two consecutive mixing processes to prevent a subsequently mixed container from being contaminated with a residual amount of a product from a previous mixing process of another container due to residues adhering to the mixing device.

[0046] It is therefore considered a further object of the present invention to design a device for filling a container with liquid or pasty products in such a way that a mixing process required when filling the container can be carried out as efficiently as possible and with minimal losses of the product to be filled.

[0047] This object is achieved in that the mixing device has a mixing element which, after the container has been filled, remains in the interior of the container which is then closed with a container lid. In particular when the container is filled with valuable products or with small amounts of product in each case, this can prevent adhering product residues from being discharged and lost for filling the container when the mixing element is removed from the container after a mixing process. The mixing element can be designed in such a way that, after the container has been closed with the container lid, it does not impair the subsequent removal of a quantity of product and can remain permanently in the interior of the container. The mixing element is preferably made from a material which is inert towards the product filled into the container.The mixing element can take up a comparatively small volume and only slightly reduce the interior space of the container that can be used for filling with the product.

[0048] The mixing element can, for example, have a predetermined breaking point, so that the mixing element can be detached from the mixing device after the product filled into the container has been thoroughly mixed along the predetermined breaking point and can remain in the interior of the container after the container has been removed from the mixing device. It is also possible for the mixing element to have magnetic properties and be displaced within the container by a suitable change in a magnetic field generated from outside the container, for example, rotating about an axis of rotation predetermined by the magnetic field.

[0049] Such a device is advantageously suitable for filling a container with several different product components. According to an advantageous embodiment of the inventive concept, the filling device has several product component storage containers, from each of which a product component can be filled into the container. The several product component storage containers can be arranged, for example, in a storage container magazine. To fill a container, individually predetermined quantities of the respective product component can be filled into the container from individually selected product component storage containers. In this case, when containers are filled consecutively, an individual selection of the individual product components and the respective quantities of the product components can be made for each container.With such a filling device, successive filling processes with very individual specifications can be carried out largely or even completely automatically.

[0050] It can be provided that the filling device is displaceable relative to a container position predetermined for the filling process, so that for each individual filling step, the relevant product component storage container is brought close to the container to be filled, and only a short distance between the product component storage container and the container needs to be bridged for the product component filling step. It is also conceivable and advantageous for many areas of application for the product component storage container to be arranged in a stationary manner during a filling process, and for the container to be filled to be successively approached to the respective product component storage container using a suitable container handling device such that a predetermined quantity of the product component can be poured into the container from the relevant product component storage container with as little loss as possible.

[0051] According to the invention, a product mixing device of the device comprises a container lid handling device, with which a container lid can be gripped by a mixing device arranged on the container lid with a mixing element and can be brought toward the container in such a way that the mixing element of the mixing device protrudes into the interior of the container, and wherein the mixing element can be displaced within the interior of the container with the container lid handling device. The container lid particularly advantageously comprises a dosing dispenser and a mixing device, as already described above.To achieve thorough mixing of the product filled into the container, the container lid can be brought close to the container with the container lid handling device in such a way that the mixing element of the mixing device protrudes into the interior of the container and, by moving the container lid, mixes the product inside the container without the container lid being secured to the container. In many cases, efficient mixing of the product can be achieved by rotating the container lid and the resulting rotational movement of the mixing element protruding into the interior of the container.

[0052] Since the mixing device can also be operated with the container lid handling device, the device designed according to the invention eliminates the expense of manufacturing and operating an additional handling device for a separate mixing device. Furthermore, the filling process, including individual mixing steps and the subsequent closing of the container with the container lid, can be carried out within a very short time. For example, after completing the last mixing step performed with the container lid handling device, the already gripped container lid only needs to be secured to the container without the mixing device having to be removed from the interior of the container and from the container opening.If the container lid is secured, for example, by screwing it onto a correspondingly designed screw thread on the container opening, the container lid handling device must already be designed and configured to allow a rotational movement of the container lid. With the same rotational movement, the product in the container can be thoroughly mixed during a mixing step with the container lid still located at a distance from the screw thread in the vicinity of the container. Consequently, the container lid handling device does not need any additional degrees of freedom or separate actuators or drive devices to be able to carry out both a mixing step and the subsequent securing of the container lid to the container.

[0053] According to one embodiment of the inventive concept, the device can be provided with a container handling device with which the container can be gripped and brought towards a container lid having a mixing device with a mixing element arranged on the container lid, such that the mixing element of the mixing device projects into the interior of the container. To carry out a mixing step and the subsequent closing of the container opening with the container lid, only relative movements between the container and the container lid are required. For this reason, it can be advantageous to carry out part of the required movement sequence or the entire movement sequence by displacing the container using a suitably designed container handling device, rather than a complex movement of the container lid.In particular, in a configuration of the device with a filling device having a plurality of product component storage containers and a relocation of the container to be filled to the product component storage containers positioned immovably in the device during the filling process, it may be expedient to configure the container handling device in such a way that all movement sequences can be carried out which are required for the filling process, as well as some or all of the movement sequences which are required for the mixing step and for the subsequent fixing of the container lid to the container.

[0054] With regard to optimizing individual travel paths and movement sequences, it can also be advantageous for both the container handling device and the container lid handling device to each take over and simultaneously carry out part of the required movement sequences during a mixing step and during a subsequent fixing of the container lid to the container.

[0055] According to one embodiment of the inventive concept, the container can be displaced with the container handling device in such a way that the mixing element is displaced within the interior of the container. In this way, the mixing step can also be carried out largely or entirely by suitable control and manipulation of the container handling device.

[0056] According to the invention, the container lid is displaced relative to the container using a container lid handling device such that the mixing element is displaced within the interior of the container. The container lid can be displaced back and forth either along a straight trajectory or rotated around a predetermined axis of rotation. Complex trajectories or displacement sequences are also conceivable in order to achieve the most efficient mixing of the product in the container.

[0057] Depending on the desired manner in which the container lid is to be attached to the container, the device can optionally be provided with a container closure device with which the container lid can be fastened to the container after the container has been filled with the product and the product has been mixed in the container. The container lid can be screwed onto a threaded section provided for this purpose on the container by a rotational movement. The container lid can also be fastened to the container in a locking manner above the container opening. It is also conceivable for the container lid to be connected to the container in a materially bonded manner, wherein the container lid is connected to the container, for example, by ultrasonic welding or friction welding. It is also conceivable for the container lid to be glued to the container.The container closure device carries out the necessary steps required to attach or secure the container lid to the container.

[0058] Advantageously, it can optionally be provided that the device has a container magazine for receiving a number of containers and a container lid magazine for receiving a number of container lids, each with a mixing device arranged on the container lid. In this way, a number of containers can be filled one after the other with an individually specified product composed of various product components, without manual intervention or refilling of containers or container lids being necessary. Such a device can be used over a long period of time to fill a container one after the other with a product individually prepared from various product components according to customer requirements and to dispense the respective container.Such a device is suitable, for example, for the individual preparation and filling of cosmetics into containers, from which a predetermined amount of product can be dispensed using a dosing device until the container is completely empty. Since a separate mixing device is used for each container or for each individual product composition, particularly hygienic filling of the individual containers is possible. Furthermore, the individual filling and mixing processes can be carried out with particularly low loss of individual product components, thus enabling particularly efficient and cost-effective filling and subsequent mixing of the individual product components, especially with small product component quantities and valuable product components.

[0059] The following are examples of the inventive concept that are illustrated in the drawing. It shows: Figure 1 a schematic representation of the essential components of a device according to the invention for filling a container with a liquid or pasty product, Figure 2 to Figure 10 each a representation of the device during a process sequence for filling and mixing a container with a product composed of several product components, Figure 11 a sectional view of a container with a container lid closing a container opening of the container, which has a dosing dispenser and a mixing device, Figure 12 a sectional view of the container according to Figure 11 , wherein an actuating element of the dosing dispenser device is actuated and thereby a mixing element of the mixing device is displaced, and Figures 13 to 15different states of the dosing dispenser device and the mixing device during an actuation of the dosing dispenser device for dispensing a quantity of product from a container.

[0060] One in Figure 1 exemplary device 1 for filling a Figure 1 The device 1 comprises a container magazine 2 with a number of containers and associated container lids 3, which are arranged in the container magazine 2 and are held ready for filling with the product. The device 1 further comprises a storage container magazine 4 with a number of product component storage containers 5, each of which holds a product component that can be filled into a container provided for this purpose as part of a product composed of several product components.

[0061] The device 1 has a container handling device 6, with which a container is gripped and moved within a Figure 1 The container handling device 6 can be displaced in all three spatial directions within the housing of the device 1 (not shown). For this purpose, the container handling device 6 has a gripping and holding device 7, which can be displaced along correspondingly arranged displacement rails 8, 9, 10 on a container handling carriage 11 in all three spatial directions within the housing of the device 1.

[0062] A number of container lids 3 are stored in the container magazine 2. Initially, each container lid 3 is connected to an associated container. To fill the container, the container can be gripped with the container handling device 6 and detached from the container lid 3. It can then be filled with the product and, after a mixing process, reconnected to the container lid 3 and sealed by the container lid 3.

[0063] The following are Figures 2 to 10 different points in time during a filling process of a container with the device 1 described above are shown in detail for illustration purposes.

[0064] At the beginning of a filling process, the gripping and holding device 7 of the container handling device 6 is moved in a horizontal plane under a container 12, which is kept in stock in the container magazine 2 together with the associated container lid 3 ( Figure 2 ).

[0065] The container 12 is then gripped and released from the associated container lid 3 by the gripping and holding device 7, which is subsequently displaced in the vertical direction ( Figure 3 ).

[0066] The container 12 is removed from the container lid 3 by means of the gripping and holding device 7, wherein a mixing device 13 arranged on the container lid 3 with a mixing element 14 is pulled out of an interior space 15 of the container 12 ( Figure 4 ).

[0067] The container 12 is then moved with the gripping and holding device 7 of the container handling device 6 out of the container magazine 2 to the storage container magazine 4 with the product component storage containers 5 arranged there ( Figure 5 ).

[0068] In order to fill the container 12 in a product component filling step with a product component from a selected product component storage container 5, the container 12 is moved directly beneath a product component storage container 5 and is brought from below to a filling nozzle 16 of the relevant product component storage container 5.

[0069] At the same time, a filling valve actuating element 18 of the product component storage container 5 is deflected by a filling activation device 17 of the container handling device 6, thereby opening a filling valve of the product component storage container 5 and filling a predetermined amount of a product component from the product component storage container 5 through the filling nozzle 16 of the product component storage container 5 into the container 12 ( Figure 6 ).

[0070] The container 12 is then moved away from the product component storage container 5 by the gripping and holding device 7 of the container handling device 6 ( Figure 7 ) and moved back to the associated container lid 3, wherein the container 12 is moved and moved in the vicinity of the container lid 3 in such a way that the mixing device 13 with the mixing element 14 is introduced into the interior 15 of the container 12 ( Figure 8). The container 12 is then displaced back and forth several times in the vertical direction by means of the gripping and holding device 7 of the container handling device 6, or pivoted about a vertical axis of rotation or rotated in a rotational movement, so that the mixing device 13 projecting into the interior 15 of the container 12 mixes the quantity of product components located in the interior 15 of the container 12 with the mixing element 14.

[0071] The container 12 is then repeatedly brought to a respective predetermined product component storage container 5 and filled with a predetermined amount of product component from the respective product component storage container 5 and then mixed with the mixing device 13 arranged on the associated container lid 3 until the container 12 is filled with all selected product components and the product composed and mixed therefrom is produced and completely filled into the container 12.

[0072] The container 12 is then brought one last time to the associated container lid 3 and, if necessary, after another mixing step with the mixing device 13, the container lid 3 is firmly connected to the container 12, for example by screwing the container lid 3 onto a threaded section of the container 12 shown in the preceding figures. In the process, the container lid 3 is removed from the container magazine 11 ( Figure 9 ).

[0073] Finally, the completely filled and thoroughly mixed container 12, which is closed with the container lid 3, is moved by the gripping and holding device 7 of the container handling device 6 in a vertical direction to a dispensing opening (not shown) in the housing (also not shown) and is held ready for dispensing from the device 1 ( Figure 10 ).

[0074] In the Figures 11 and 121 shows, by way of example and schematically, a container 12 with the container lid 3 secured to the container 12. The container lid 3 has a dosing dispenser device 19 with a dosing dispenser chamber 20, an actuating element 21, and a product dispensing channel 22 extending in the actuating element 21, which opens into a product dispensing opening 23 in the actuating element 21. At its end opposite the product dispensing opening 23, the product dispensing channel 22 opens into the dosing dispenser chamber 20. A chamber opening 24 of the dosing dispenser chamber 20 can be closed or opened by a closure element 25.When the actuating element 21 is actuated, which is thereby displaced in the direction of the dosing dispenser chamber 20, the chamber opening 24 of the dosing dispenser chamber 20 is closed with the closure element 25 and a predetermined amount of product is conveyed from the dosing dispenser chamber 20 through the product dispensing channel 22 and dispensed from the product dispensing opening 23 (. Figure 12 ). As soon as the actuating element 21 is released, it is returned to its initial position by a spring device 26, thereby simultaneously refilling the dosing dispenser chamber 20 with a quantity of product that flows from the interior 15 of the container 12 through the chamber opening 24 into the dosing dispenser chamber 20 ( Figure 11). A piston element 36, which is movably mounted between two stops 34, 35, is displaced away from an opening of the product dispensing channel 22 opening into the dosing dispenser chamber 20 upon actuation of the actuating element 21 and releases the opening of the product dispensing channel 22, so that with increasing penetration of the piston element 36 into the dosing dispenser chamber 20, a quantity of product is pressed from the dosing dispenser chamber 20 through the released opening into the product dispensing channel 22 and a corresponding quantity of product is dispensed from the product dispensing opening 23 ( Figure 12). As soon as the actuating element 21 is released and is displaced further out of the interior 14 of the container 12 due to the spring force of the spring device 26, the mouth opening of the product dispensing channel 22 is first closed again by the piston element 36 and then the piston element 36 is withdrawn from the dosing dispenser chamber 20 so that a quantity of product corresponding to the quantity of product previously pressed into the product dispensing channel 22 flows from the interior 14 of the container 12 into the dosing dispenser chamber 20 and refills it ( Figure 11 ).

[0075] Forming an extension of the chamber opening 24 of the dosing dispenser chamber 20 is a suction tube 29 extending from a lid body 27 to a bottom 28 of the container 12. The actuating element 21 of the dosing dispenser device 19 engages with a mixing element sleeve 30. At an end of the mixing element sleeve 30 facing the bottom 28 of the container 12, a suction opening 31 is formed between the mixing element sleeve 30 and the surrounding suction tube 29, through which the product located in the interior 15 of the container 12 is sucked in near the bottom 28 and drawn into the dosing dispenser chamber 20.Two mixing elements 14, each helically extending and extending over half the circumference, are fastened to the rotatably mounted mixing element sleeve 30, which is operatively connected to the actuating element 21, via connecting webs 37. The mixing elements 14 have mixing blades 32 projecting into the interior 15 of the container 12 at a radial distance from the mixing element sleeve 30. When the actuating element 21 is actuated, the actuating element 21 is pressed in an axial direction into the interior 15 of the container 12. Via the operative connection, the mixing element sleeve 30 and the mixing elements 14 fastened thereto, with the helically extending mixing blades 32, are thereby set into a rotational movement and rotated about a displacement axis 33 running centrally through the interior 15 of the container 12.As a result, the product composed of several product components is thoroughly mixed in the interior 15 of the container 12 immediately before it is sucked into the dosing dispenser chamber 20 through the suction opening 31 by the return movement of the actuating element 21. In this way, it can be achieved that a well-mixed amount of product is sucked into the dosing dispenser chamber 20 and dispensed through the product dispensing opening 23 upon subsequent actuation of the actuating element 21.

[0076] In the Figures 13 to 15 In each case, only the container lid 3 with the dosing device 19 and the mixing device 13 arranged thereon is shown. Figures 13 to 15It is shown by way of example that with an increasing displacement of the actuating element 21, the mixing element sleeve 30 is rotated and as a result the mixing elements 14 fixed to the mixing element sleeve 30 and accordingly carried along are also rotated, whereby a mixing of the product in the interior 15 of the Figures 13 to 15 surrounding container 12, not shown.

Claims

1. Container lid (3) for a container (12) for receiving liquid or pasty products, comprising a lid body (27), which can be fixed to a container housing of the container (3) via a container opening, and comprising a manually actuatable metering dispenser apparatus (19), by means of which a settable quantity of the product can be dispensed from the container housing through a product dispensing opening (23) in the metering dispenser apparatus (19) when an actuating element (21) of the metering dispenser apparatus (19) is actuated, wherein, when the container lid (3) is used as intended with the container (12), the container lid (3) is in engagement with a mixing apparatus (13) for the product located in the container (12), wherein the mixing apparatus (13) comprises a displaceable mixing element (14), which is operatively connected to the actuating element (21) of the metering dispenser apparatus (19) and is displaced by actuation of the actuating element (21), wherein the mixing apparatus (13) is arranged on the container lid (3), wherein the metering dispenser apparatus (19) comprises an intake pipe (29) extending away from the lid body (27) for the product to be dispensed through the product dispensing opening (23), and wherein the mixing element (14) is displaceably mounted on an end region of the intake pipe (29) remote from the lid body (27), and wherein the mixing element (14) is pivotably mounted about a displacement axis (33) extending away from the lid body (27), characterised in that the mixing element (14) extends in the longitudinal direction of the intake pipe (29) beyond an intake opening (31) formed in the intake pipe (29) for the product to be dispensed.

2. Container lid (3) according to claim 1, characterised in that the mixing apparatus (13) comprises a displaceably mounted mixing element sleeve (30), which is arranged coaxially with the intake pipe (29) and is operatively connected to the actuating element (21), such that the mixing element sleeve (30) is displaced relative to the intake pipe (29) when the actuating element (21) is actuated.

3. Container lid (3) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the mixing element (14) comprises at least one mixing blade (32) extending along a helical line.

4. Container lid (3) according to claim 3, characterised in that the at least one mixing blade (32) is mounted at a radial distance with respect to a displacement axis (33).

5. Method for filling a container (12) with a liquid or pasty product, wherein the product is introduced into the container (12) through a container opening using a filling apparatus in a filling step, and then the filled container (12) is closed by a container lid (3), wherein the product introduced into the container (12) is mixed in a mixing step, wherein the container lid (3) is operatively connected to a mixing apparatus (13) in an interior (15) of the container (12), or the container lid (3) comprises a mixing apparatus (13) having a mixing element (14), which is introduced into an interior (15) of the container (12) during the mixing step, and wherein a mixing element (14) of the mixing apparatus is displaced in the interior (15) of the container (12) before the container lid (3) is fixed to the container (12) and the container opening is closed thereby, characterised in that, in the mixing step, the container lid (3) is rotated about an axis of rotation with the mixing apparatus (13) projecting into the interior (15) of the container (12) or a plurality of successive pivoting movements are carried out about a pivot axis.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterised in that, in the filling step, at least two product component introduction steps are carried out one after another, in which one product component is introduced into the container (12) at a time.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterised in that a mixing step is carried out between two successive product component introduction steps.

8. Device (1) for filling a container (12) with a liquid or pasty product, wherein the device (1) comprises a filling apparatus for filling an interior of the container (12) with the product, wherein the device (1) is configured such that the container (12) and a mixing apparatus (13) can be displaced relative to one another such that a mixing element (14) of the mixing apparatus (13) projects into the interior (15) of the container (12) and the mixing element (14) of the mixing apparatus (13) is displaced in the interior (15) of the container (12), and wherein the mixing apparatus (13) comprises a mixing element (14), which, after filling the container (12), remains in the interior (15) of the container (12), which is then closed by a container lid (3), characterised in that a product-mixing apparatus of the device comprises a container-lid handling apparatus, by which a container lid (3) comprising a mixing apparatus (13) that has a mixing element (14) and is arranged on the container lid (3) can be gripped and moved towards the container (12) such that the mixing element (14) of the mixing apparatus (13) projects into the interior (15) of the container (12), and wherein the mixing element (14) can be displaced together with the container-lid handling apparatus within the interior (15) of the container (12).

9. Device (1) according to claim 8, characterised in that the filling apparatus comprises a plurality of product-component storage containers (5), from each of which a product component can be introduced into the container (12).

10. Device (1) according to claim 8 or claim 9, characterised in that the device (1) comprises a container-handling apparatus (6), by which the container (12) can be gripped and moved towards a container lid (3) comprising a mixing apparatus (13) that has a mixing element (14) and is arranged on the container lid (3) such that the mixing element (14) of the mixing apparatus (13) projects into the interior (15) of the container (12).

11. Device (1) according to claim 10, characterised in that the container (12) can be displaced together with the container-handling apparatus (6) such that the mixing element (14) is displaced within the interior (15) of the container (12) .

12. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims 8 to 11, characterised in that the device (1) comprises a container closure apparatus, by means of which the container lid (3) can be fastened to the container (12) after the container (12) has been filled with the product and the product has been mixed in the container (12).

13. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims 8 to 12, characterised in that the device (1) comprises a container magazine (2) for receiving a number of containers (12) and a container lid magazine for receiving a number of container lids (3), each comprising a mixing apparatus (13) arranged on the container lid (3).