Device for dosing a liquid into several containers

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for metering a liquid (12) into several containers (14). The device (10) has a liquid reservoir (20) and a common pump (26). According to the invention, a distributor (30) is provided, which is arranged between the common pump (26) and the several containers (14). Several metering needles (40) are connected to the distributor (30).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a device for dosing a liquid into multiple containers. Such dosing systems are required, for example, for filling liquids or emulsions into ampoules. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Known devices for dosing a liquid into multiple containers typically have a fluid reservoir in which the liquid to be dosed is stored. Depending on the number of containers to be filled, a separate dosing pump is required for each container. This limits the number of containers that can be filled simultaneously. Furthermore, the devices have a large number of pumps, so the number of parts and thus the number of potential malfunctions is correspondingly high. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Based on this prior art, the object of the invention is to provide an improved device for dosing a liquid into several containers, the maintenance requirements of which are reduced.

[0004] The device according to the invention for dosing a liquid into several containers is defined by the features of main claim 1. Useful developments of the invention are the subject of further claims following this claim.

[0005] The device according to the invention for dosing a liquid into several containers has a liquid reservoir in which the liquid to be dosed is kept in reserve. According to the invention, a common pump is provided for several containers. A distributor is located between the common pump and the several containers. Several dosing needles are connected to this distributor, via which the liquid to be dosed is then dispensed into the individual containers.

[0006] With the device according to the invention, dosing can thus be carried out using only a single pump. Such a device represents a particularly simple dosing system that requires significantly fewer parts and pumps than the prior art. This reduces downtime during production start-up and when cleaning the device. When using multiple pumps, the entire hose between the liquid reservoir and each individual pump must be flushed during a machine shutdown. Using only a single pump therefore requires significantly less hose cleaning.

[0007] Preferably, the dispensing needles can each be connected to the distributor via a hose. Preferably, the dispensing needles can each be connected to the distributor via a dispensing valve. The dispensing valves can preferably each be individually controlled. In this way, only those dispensing valves that actually lead to a container to be filled can be opened.

[0008] The liquid to be dosed can be a homogeneous liquid, but also a suspension or emulsion. A suspension can, in particular, be a mixture of a homogeneous liquid and beads, especially plastic beads. Such beads (also called "beads") can, for example, also be coated with an active ingredient. To keep the beads evenly distributed in the liquid, the suspension in the liquid reservoir should be stirred as continuously as possible. Thus, in an advantageous embodiment, at least one stirring tool can be present in the liquid reservoir.

[0009] To keep the fluid as homogeneous as possible, the fluid should be continuously pumped through the circuit. For this purpose, the distributor can be connected to the fluid reservoir via a hose. This allows the pump to first pump the fluid from the fluid reservoir through a hose into the distributor. From there, the fluid can be pumped back into the fluid reservoir, ensuring continuous fluid circulation. This prevents fluid components from settling in the fluid reservoir and the distributor. This also prevents the hoses used for the pump circuit between the fluid reservoir and the distributor from having to be cleaned during a machine shutdown.With the device according to the invention, the liquid can continue to be pumped through the circuit even when the dosing unit is at a standstill, preventing any liquid components from settling in the hoses. This also prevents the hoses from becoming clogged, which would otherwise require cleaning. Thus, only the relatively short sections of hose between the dosing needles and the distributor need to be cleaned.

[0010] The hose between the common pump and the distributor can in particular be designed as a pressure-resistant hose.

[0011] To meter the fluid into the individual containers, a valve can be installed in the hose between the distributor and the fluid reservoir. Closing this shut-off valve prevents the fluid from flowing back from the distributor into the fluid reservoir, allowing fluid metering. At the same time, the metering valves on the distributor can be opened to meter the required amount of fluid into the containers.

[0012] To ensure the valves are closed and opened at the correct time, the pressure curve in the distributor can be measured using a pressure sensor. Such a pressure sensor can be connected directly to the distributor. The pressure curve can then be recorded, for example, by the machine control system.

[0013] The common pump can in particular be a piston pump.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the distributor can be vertically oriented. In this case, the inlet for the hose coming from the pump is located at the bottom of the distributor. This allows the liquid to be metered to flow through the distributor from below, preventing deposits in the distributor. Preferably, the outlet for the hose leading back to the liquid reservoir can also be located at the bottom of the distributor.

[0015] Alternatively, the distributor can also be oriented horizontally. In this case, the inlet for the hose coming from the pump can be located at either of the two side edges of the distributor.

[0016] In a first embodiment, the distributor may contain an inlet line, a diverter line, and an outlet line. The inlet line, the diverter line, and the outlet line are connected to one another, so that the fluid coming from the pump first flows through the inlet line, then through the diverter line, and finally through the outlet line. The outlet line is then connected to the hose leading back to the fluid reservoir. In this case, the outlet line and the inlet line can be arranged approximately parallel to one another, with the dispensing needles connected exclusively to the outlet line.

[0017] Preferably, the dispensing needles can be connected to the outlet line at a constant distance from each other. This results in an even distribution of fluid between the individual dispensing needles, allowing for precise dispensing of the fluid.

[0018] In a second embodiment, the distributor can have a riser, with a dosing unit with multiple dosing needles located in the area of ​​the riser. The dosing needles are arranged in a plane and distributed circumferentially around the riser. In this case, the individual dosing needles are preferably aligned radially symmetrically, allowing for even fluid distribution.

[0019] Further advantages and features of the invention can be found in the features further specified in the claims and in the following exemplary embodiments. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0020] The invention will be described and explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the device according to the invention for dosing a liquid into several containers, Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the distributor of the device according to the invention, Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the distributor of the device according to the invention and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the dosing unit of the distributor according to Fig. 3 . WAYS TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

[0021] The device 10 according to the invention for dosing a liquid 12 into several containers 14 is shown in Fig. 1 shown schematically. In the present example, a total of six containers 14 are present. In principle, the number of containers 14 to be filled is freely selectable and can be adapted to the respective existing conditions.

[0022] The device 10 has a liquid reservoir 20 with an agitator 22. The agitator 22 can keep the liquid 12 present in the liquid reservoir 20 in constant motion. This is particularly important for emulsions or suspensions as the liquid 12 to prevent individual components of the liquid 12 from settling. If the liquids 12 are homogeneous, the agitator 22 could also be omitted.

[0023] The liquid reservoir 20 is connected to a common pump 26 via a hose 24. The pump 26 is connected to a distributor 30 via another hose 28. The hose 28 is designed as a pressure-resistant hose 28. The distributor 30 is connected to the liquid reservoir 20 via a hose 32. In this way, the liquid in the liquid reservoir 20 can be continuously pumped by the pump 26 in a circuit through the hose 24, the hose 28, the distributor 30, the hose 32, and the liquid reservoir 20. This prevents individual components of the liquid 12 from settling in the hoses 24, 28, 32, or the distributor 30, unless the liquid 12 is drawn into the individual containers 14.

[0024] In the present example, a total of six dispensing needles 40 are provided on the distributor 30, each connected to the distributor 30 via a hose 42. A dispensing valve 44 is provided in each of the hoses 42. The dispensing valves 44 can each be controlled individually, so that for each container 14, it can be determined separately whether or not it should be filled with the liquid 12.

[0025] To meter the liquid 12 into the containers 14, a valve 46 in the hose 32 between the distributor 30 and the liquid reservoir 20 is closed so that the liquid 12 can no longer be pumped into the circuit. At the same time, the metering valves 44 on the distributor 30 are opened to meter the required amount of liquid 12. The metered amount of liquid 12 is then dispensed into the respective containers 14 via the metering needles 40. Subsequently, the metering valves 44 are closed again, and the shut-off valve 46 is opened again so that the liquid 12 can be pumped into the circuit again. The filled containers 14 can be removed and replaced with new, empty containers 14. As soon as the new containers 14 have been presented, a new metering process can be started.

[0026] In order to ensure that the metering valves 44 are opened at the right time and the shut-off valve 46 is closed at the right time, the pressure curve in the distributor 30 is recorded by means of a pressure sensor 48.

[0027] A first embodiment of the distributor 30 is shown in Fig. 2shown schematically. In the present example, the distributor 30 is oriented vertically, with both the inlet 50 and the outlet 52 being arranged at the lower edge of the distributor 30. The distributor 30 can thus be flowed through from below, so that deposits within the distributor 30 can be minimized. Within the distributor 30 there is an inlet line 54 which is connected to the inlet 50. The inlet line 54 opens into a diversion line 56. The diversion line 56 opens into an outlet line 58 which is connected to the outlet 52. The inlet line 54 and the outlet line 58 are therefore arranged approximately parallel to one another in the present example.

[0028] The individual hoses 42 leading to the dispensing needles 40 are arranged on the outlet line 58. The hoses 42, and thus also the dispensing needles 40, are each spaced at a constant distance 60 from one another. This ensures a uniform distribution of the fluid in the distributor 30 and thus a precise dosing of the fluid 12.

[0029] In contrast to the Fig. 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the distributor 30 could also be oriented horizontally. In this case, the inlet 50 and the outlet 52 could optionally be connected to one of the two lateral ends of the distributor 30. In principle, it would also be possible in this case to connect the inlet 50 to one of the two lateral ends of the distributor 30 and the outlet 52 to the opposite end of the distributor 30.

[0030] A second embodiment of the distributor 30.3 is shown in Fig. 3 and 4shown schematically. In the present example, the distributor 30.3 is oriented vertically. The inlet 50.3 is arranged in the lower area of ​​the distributor 30.3, while the outlet 52.3 is arranged in the upper area of ​​the distributor 30.3. The distributor 30.3 can thus be flowed through from below, so that deposits within the distributor 30.3 can be prevented. In the present example, the inlet 50.3 is followed by a curved diversion line 70, which opens into a vertical riser line 72. The riser line 72 ends at the outlet 52.3. The diversion line 70 has a larger radius in order to minimize possible separation of the liquid 12 due to centrifugal forces.

[0031] A dosing unit 74 is arranged in the area of ​​the riser 72. In the present example, the dosing unit 74 has a total of eight connection pieces 76 for dosing needles 40. Thus, a total of eight hoses 74 can be attached to the dosing unit 74, each connecting a dosing needle 40 to the dosing unit 74. The connection pieces 76 and thus also the dosing needles 40 are arranged in a plane and distributed circumferentially around the riser 72. The connection pieces 76 each have an identical radial distance of 45 degrees from the adjacent connection pieces 76 in the present example. This ensures a uniform liquid distribution in the area of ​​the distributor 30.3 and in particular in the area of ​​the dosing unit 74, so that particularly high levels of accuracy with regard to the dosing result are possible.

[0032] Depending on the desired number of containers 14 to be filled and the liquid to be dosed, more or fewer dosing needles 40 can in principle be provided on the distributor 30, 30.3.

Claims

1. Device (10) for dosing a liquid (12) into a plurality of containers (14) - with a liquid reservoir (20), - with a common pump (26), - with a distributor (30, 30.3) arranged between the common pump (26) and the plurality of containers (14), - with a plurality of dosing needles (40) connected to the distributor (30, 30.3).

2. Device according to claim 1, - characterized in that - the dosing needles (40) are each connected to the distributor (30, 30.3) by means of a hose (42).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, - characterized in that - the dosing needles (40) are each connected to the distributor (30, 30.3) via a dosing valve (44).

4. Device according to claim 3, - characterized in that - the dosing valves (44) can each be controlled individually.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, - characterized in that- the liquid reservoir (20) is connected to the common pump (26) by means of a hose (24).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, - characterized in that - the common pump (26) is connected to the distributor (30, 30.3) by means of a hose (28).

7. Device according to claim 6, - characterized in that - the hose (28) between the common pump (26) and the distributor (30, 30.3) is designed as a pressure-resistant hose (28).

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, - characterized in that - the distributor (30, 30.3) is connected to the liquid reservoir (20) by means of a hose (32).

9. Device according to claim 8, - characterized in that - a valve (46) is provided in the hose (32) between the distributor (30, 30.3) and the liquid reservoir (20).

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, - characterized in that - a pressure sensor (48) is present.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, - characterized in that - at least one stirring tool (22) is present in the liquid reservoir (20).

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, - characterized in that - the common pump (26) is designed as a piston pump.

13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, - characterized in that - the distributor (30, 30.3) is aligned vertically, - the inlet (50, 50.3) for the hose (28) is arranged at the lower part of the distributor (30).

14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, - characterized in that- an input line (54) is present in the distributor (30), - a diverting line (56) is connected to the input line (54) within the distributor (30), - an output line (58) is connected to the diverting line (56) within the distributor (30), so that the output line (58) and the input line (54) are arranged approximately parallel to one another, - the dosing needles (40) are connected to the output line (58).

15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, - characterized in that - the distributor (30.3) has a riser (72), - a dosing unit (74) with a plurality of dosing needles (40) is present in the region of the riser (72), - the dosing needles (40) are arranged in one plane and distributed circumferentially around the riser (72).

Images