Metering device

Abstract

The invention relates to a metering device (100) for dispensing a flowable substance out of a container. The metering device comprises a main part (20) for securing to the container, a dispensing device (30) with a discharge opening (31), and a compensating chamber (40) which is connected to the discharge opening (31). The compensating chamber (40) has an invariable volume, and the compensating chamber (40) has a through-opening (41) and a fill opening (42). A piston (50) is arranged within the compensating chamber (40), wherein the piston (50) can be moved linearly within the compensating chamber (40) such that the through-opening (41) can be closed by the piston (50).

Description

[0001] Dosing device

[0002] The present invention relates to a dosing device for dispensing a flowable substance from a container according to the preamble of the independent claims.

[0003] In our daily use of liquids dispensed from containers, such as detergents, it is important to dispense them in a predetermined dosage. This is necessary, for example, to avoid exceeding certain concentrations of the ingredients and, at the same time, to protect the environment. Incorrect dosing can, for example, lead to poor washing results or to some of the dispensed liquid being discarded unused, or to an increased amount of water being required, for example, to wash out residues of the liquid.

[0004] Various solutions for dosing liquids have become known from the prior art. In a simple embodiment, for example, the lid can be removed from a container and the liquid can be poured into this lid until the lid is filled up to a measuring line marked on it. The lid, which must then be used again to close the container, is contaminated after this process and must be cleaned to prevent further contamination of the container.

[0005] WO 2021 / 123 380 A1 discloses a dosing device with which a predetermined amount of liquid can be dispensed automatically. For this purpose, a container lid is provided in which a control chamber is arranged. Within the control chamber, a closing part is pivotally mounted on a pivot axis. The control chamber is divided into two variable chambers by the closing part. When the liquid is dispensed, one of the two chambers is filled, so that the closing part closes a spout. In order for this device to function as expected, it is essential that the pivot axis is at a certain angle to the spout line. However, to pour, the container must be tilted, in particular turned upside down.It is obvious that, depending on the extent to which the container is tilted, the pivot axis assumes a different position and, as a result, the kinematic conditions within the dosing device change continuously. This inaccuracy is further compounded by the container rotating about its longitudinal axis. It is therefore almost impossible to reproduce a dosing process. Hardly any user can hold or move a container in exactly the same way twice. Furthermore, the dosing device from WO 2021 / 123 380 A1 is only suitable for certain containers which have a relatively large diameter at the container neck. To increase the dosing volume, a container must be created whose neck is also larger, i.e. which has a larger neck diameter.

[0006] The object of the invention is to remedy at least one or more disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, a dosing device is to be provided that enables a dosing process to be repeated reproducibly, which is preferably easy to handle and, in particular, inexpensive to manufacture. Such a dosing device can preferably also be used regardless of its position and, in particular, regardless of the neck diameter of a container.

[0007] This object is achieved by the devices defined in the independent patent claims. Further embodiments emerge from the dependent patent claims.

[0008] A dosing device according to the invention for dispensing a flowable substance from a container comprises a base body for attachment to the container, a dispensing device with a discharge opening and a compensation chamber which is connected to the discharge opening.

[0009] The compensation chamber has a fixed volume. It also has a passage opening and a filling opening. A piston is arranged within the compensation chamber. The piston can be moved linearly within the compensation chamber, so that the passage opening can be closed by the piston.

[0010] The passage opening is an opening into the compensation chamber that connects the compensation chamber to the interior of the container. In the initial position of the piston—i.e., before the container is turned upside down, or at the beginning of the dispensing process in the upside-down position—the passage opening connects the interior of the container to the dispensing opening, allowing liquid to flow out unhindered at this point.

[0011] The passage opening is preferably arranged at the very end of the compensation chamber facing the discharge opening and preferably adjoins directly a bottom of the compensation chamber.

[0012] The filling opening is also an opening into the compensation chamber, which connects the outlet chamber with the interior of the container.

[0013] However, the filling opening is characterized by the fact that it is separated from the discharge opening by the piston located in the compensation chamber. In contrast, the passage opening has a fluid connection to the discharge opening, at least at the beginning of a liquid dispensing process.

[0014] This fluid connection can be interrupted by the piston. The linear mobility of the piston allows the dosing device to be used essentially unaffected by the container's tilt angle, while also being independent of the container's rotation about its longitudinal axis.

[0015] In other words, the piston closes the opening in its lower end position, i.e., when used upside down. This closure interrupts the dispensing process.

[0016] The passage opening is preferably arranged laterally on the compensation chamber. This arrangement allows the piston to sweep over this passage opening during its movement, thus continuously reducing the passage opening until it is completely closed in the piston's end position.

[0017] The longitudinal axis of a container is typically defined by a connection from a container base to a container opening. In the example of a rotationally symmetric container, such as a bottle for cooking oil, the longitudinal axis is identical to the container's axis of rotation.

[0018] By closing the passage opening with the piston, further introduction of fluid into the compensation chamber can be prevented. Furthermore, this arrangement allows a dosing process to be terminated with an indication that the dosing process is nearing completion. The piston does not close the passage opening suddenly and immediately; rather, the passage opening continuously becomes smaller as it overlaps with the piston, so that the flow of dispensed fluid also decreases. This decrease indicates to the user that the dosing process is nearing completion.

[0019] The constant volume of the compensation chamber ensures the reproducibility of the dosing process.

[0020] The compensation chamber is preferably cylindrical; a piston located therein can also be cylindrical. The piston can therefore float freely within the compensation chamber and is neither restricted in its rotary nor in its linear movement.

[0021] The design with a linearly movable piston also makes it possible, for example, to design it with a relatively small diameter and accordingly increase or decrease the axial expansion of the compensation chamber in order to provide a correspondingly larger or smaller time delay and thus a correspondingly larger or smaller dispensing volume. This also allows the dosing device to be used for containers with relatively small discharge openings or container necks.

[0022] The axial length of the piston preferably corresponds to at least 0.8 times the diameter of the piston. This reliably prevents the piston from tilting or jamming within the compensation chamber.

[0023] As already explained, the compensation chamber is connected to the discharge opening. The discharge opening is an integral component of the compensation chamber and closes off the discharge direction of the liquid.

[0024] However, the discharge opening can also be formed in a separate element, which closes the compensation chamber. This element can be designed as a lid for closing the compensation chamber. Alternatively, this element can also be part of an adjusting device by which the dosage amount can be adjusted.

[0025] Opposite this discharge opening, the compensation chamber has a floor. A jacket extends from the floor of the compensation chamber towards the discharge opening. The passage opening is preferably arranged in the jacket of the compensation chamber. By arranging it in the jacket, the passage opening can be easily closed with the piston. The piston functions like a diaphragm that sweeps over the passage opening. In other words, the passage opening is arranged laterally or to the side of the compensation chamber. It forms a window in the jacket.

[0026] The clear cross-section of the passage opening can be essentially rectangular. However, it can also be provided that the cross-section tapers or widens toward the discharge opening, i.e., in the direction of the longitudinal axis and thus also in the direction of the linear movement of the piston, in order, for example, to achieve a certain decrease in the liquid flow during the dosing process.

[0027] The filling opening is preferably arranged in the base of the compensation chamber. This arrangement in the base ensures that the compensation chamber can be evenly filled with liquid, regardless of its position. The filling opening can preferably be arranged centrally in the base.

[0028] Preferably, the piston divides the compensation chamber into a passage chamber and a filling chamber. The filling chamber is fluidly connected or can be brought into fluid communication with the interior of the container exclusively via the filling opening. In particular, no further connections, such as one-way valves or the like, are provided.

[0029] This allows for simple and reproducible production of the dosing device. At the same time, a single filling opening facilitates the reproducibility of the dosing process.

[0030] The piston is preferably designed in the shape of a cup, which is open at the top when the container is in an upside-down position. For this purpose, the piston has a wall or apron which extends towards the interior of the container and thus towards the filling opening. This design provides simple guidance for the piston in the compensation chamber, and also ensures that the piston is always supplied with a minimal amount of liquid in the filling chamber. This specific design means that the filling chamber already has a minimal volume. The base of the piston, i.e. the area facing the dispensing opening, is preferably flat and has no significant elevations. This makes it possible to create a seal with the base of the passage chamber.

[0031] Preferably, a cross-section of the fluid connection between the interior of the container and the filling chamber is unchanging. In other words, there is a continuous connection between the filling chamber and the interior of the container, regardless of the state of the dosing device. In other words, the connection is constant and consistent before, during, and after the dispensing process. This creates reproducible conditions for recurring processes.

[0032] A ventilation opening may be provided within the dosing device to ventilate the interior of the container.

[0033] The dosing device as described herein is particularly suitable for dispensing liquids from containers that are not or hardly compressible or deformable. In order for a liquid to be dispensed from such containers, the volume of the liquid within the container must be replaced. Typically, this occurs by the inflow of ambient air into the interior of the container. This is made possible by a corresponding ventilation opening.

[0034] The piston is preferably arranged so as to float freely in the compensation chamber. This ensures that the piston is not hindered in its movement in any way. The dosing device can have an adjusting device for regulating a clear cross-section of the passage opening. The dosing quantity can be determined by regulating the cross-section. Depending on the size of the cross-section, more or less liquid flows into the passage chamber. However, since the filling chamber is essentially always filled at a constant speed and the passage opening is correspondingly closed by the piston at a constant speed, the dispensed volume of liquid changes depending on the after-flow speed and / or after-flow quantity.

[0035] The adjusting device may be arranged so that it can rotate. A rotatable arrangement of the adjusting device can, for example, close the passage opening in the circumferential direction of the compensation chamber.

[0036] The discharge opening can be arranged on the adjusting device. This arrangement allows the adjusting device to perform several functions simultaneously. In particular, a separate cover for the compensation chamber is no longer required; instead, the adjusting device can close the compensation chamber and simultaneously provide the discharge opening.

[0037] Additionally or alternatively, the ventilation opening for ventilating the interior of the container may also be arranged on the adjusting device.

[0038] A spout can be arranged downstream of the discharge opening to direct the liquid discharge in a specific direction and / or prevent spillage. If the discharge opening is arranged on the adjusting device and is typically designed with a spout, the ventilation opening for ventilating the interior of the container can be arranged opposite the spout. This ensures that during the intended use, i.e., when dispensing liquid, the ventilation opening for ventilating the interior of the container is directed upwards.

[0039] A further aspect concerns a container comprising a dosing device as described herein. This enables the provision of a coordinated system. Such a combination is easy to design, particularly for containers that are rigid and non-compressible, so that the dosing quantity is reproducible.

[0040] The invention is explained below with reference to schematic figures. It shows:

[0041] Figure 1: A perspective view of a dosing device;

[0042] Figure 2 : a plan view of the dosing device according to Figure 1 ;

[0043] Figure 3 : a sectional view along the section line AA of Figure 2 ;

[0044] Figure 4 : the sectional view according to Figure 3 after completion of the liquid dispensing;

[0045] Figure 5: a side view of the dosing device according to Figure 1 with the associated sectional view;

[0046] Figure 6: another side view of the dosing device according to Figure 1 with the corresponding sectional view.

[0047] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a dosing device 100. The dosing device 100 has a base body 20. The base body 20 is provided with a thread (not visible here) for attaching the dosing device 100 to a container (not shown here). The dosing device 100 has an adjusting device 60 for setting the amount of the dose to be dispensed. A dispensing opening 31 is located centrally on the adjusting device 60. A pourer 32 is arranged downstream of this dispensing opening. The pourer 32 enables the liquid to be poured out without spilling.

[0048] Figure 2 shows a top view of the dosing device 100 according to Figure 1. Figure 2 shows the adjustment device 60. This device has an indicator 62.

[0049] A scale 63 is arranged on the base body 20 and, together with the indicator 62, indicates the selected dosage. The adjusting device 60 is rotatably mounted in the base body 20. By rotating the adjusting device 60, the amount of liquid to be dispensed can be adjusted. This is indicated by the position of the indicator 62 in relation to the scale 63.

[0050] Figure 3 shows a sectional view along section line AA of Figure 2. This sectional view shows that a thread for attachment to a container is arranged within the base body 20. The illustration according to Figure 3 is an overhead view, i.e., a view in which the dosing unit 100 is shown at the beginning of a dosing process.

[0051] It can be seen that a compensation chamber 40 is arranged centrally in the base body 20. Within the compensation chamber 40 there is a piston 50 which divides the compensation chamber 40 into a passage chamber 40A and a filling chamber 40B. The piston 50 is arranged so as to be freely floating within the compensation chamber 40. This enables the dosing device 100 to be used in any position. The filling chamber 40B is connected to the interior of a container via the filling opening 42. The passage chamber 40A is also connected to the interior of the container via a passage opening 41. The filling chamber 40B is separated from the discharge opening by the presence of the piston 50.

[0052] The compensation chamber 40 has a bottom 44 and a casing 43. The filling opening 42 is formed centrally in the bottom 44. The bottom 44 is designed to taper slightly toward the filling opening 42. This ensures that the piston 50 can move freely within the compensation chamber 40. Liquid located in the filling chamber 40B can flow out unhindered.

[0053] The start of the dosing process can be seen in Figure 3. At the start of the dosing process, the piston 50 is in the starting position shown here. This starting position is achieved by storing the container in an upright position. As a result, the piston 50 sinks downwards and is in the position shown here. To dispense liquid from the container, the container is turned upside down together with the dosing device 100, and the dosing device 100 is thus in the position shown in Figure 3.

[0054] In this position, liquid can flow through the passage opening 41 from the interior of the container into the passage chamber 40A and correspondingly out of this passage chamber 40A through the discharge opening 31. This is illustrated by the arrow P2. At the same time, liquid flows from the interior of the container through the filling opening 42 into the filling chamber 40B and fills it with liquid. The liquid moves the piston 50 in the direction of the discharge opening 31. During this movement, the piston 50 begins to sweep over the passage opening 41. As the piston 50 progresses, the passage opening 41 becomes smaller until it is completely closed. As soon as the passage opening 41 is completely closed, the liquid flow along the arrow P2 is interrupted and no further liquid is discharged through the discharge opening 31.As can be seen from Figure 4, this state—i.e., the complete closure of the passage opening—occurs when the piston is in its lower end position. The amount of liquid dispensed can be adjusted by the adjusting device 60 (see Figure 1). By rotating the adjusting device, the initial cross-section of the passage opening 41 is comparatively larger or smaller. This process is explained in detail below with reference to Figures 5 and 6.

[0055] Figure 4 shows the already described conclusion of the dosing process or dispensing process. As can be seen from Figure 4, the piston 50 has completely closed the passage opening 41 so that no further liquid can flow into the passage chamber 40A, the volume of which has been completely reduced by the movement of the piston 50. At the same time, the filling chamber 40B is completely filled with liquid. In order to make the dosing device 100 ready for the next dosing process, it must be returned to its original upright position, i.e. rotated 180 degrees with respect to the position shown here in Figure 4. In this position rotated 180 degrees, the liquid that has collected in the filling chamber 40B flows back into the container.

[0056] To prevent undesirable conditions from developing in the container, such as a negative pressure condition, an opening 103 is provided on the dosing device 100 (see Figure 1) to ventilate the interior of the container. The opening 103 opens into the ventilation pipe 104. Figure 5 shows a side view of the dosing device 100 according to Figure 1 with an associated sectional view along the section line BB.

[0057] The base body 20 is visible with the adjusting device 60 arranged thereon, which opens into the spout 32. The adjusting device 60 is mounted on the base body 20 so as to be rotatable relative to the base body 20.

[0058] The adjusting device 60 has a diaphragm 61 that can be brought into alignment with the passage opening 41. The sectional view in Figure 5 shows the position of the diaphragm 61 in which the passage opening 41 is completely open. This corresponds to a high metered quantity.

[0059] Figure 6 shows a view comparable to Figure 5. In this view, the adjusting device 60 is rotated so that the aperture 61 almost completely covers the passage opening 41, leaving only a small passage cross-section open. This corresponds to a small metered amount.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Metering device (100) for dispensing a flowable substance from a container, comprising a base body (20) for attachment to the container, a dispensing device (30) with a discharge opening (31) and a compensation chamber (40) connected with the discharge opening (31) is connected, wherein the compensation chamber (40) has a constant volume and wherein the compensation chamber (40) has a through-opening (41) and a filling opening (42), characterized in that a piston (50) is arranged inside the compensation chamber (40), wherein the piston (50) is linearly displaceable inside the compensation chamber (40) so that the through-opening (41) can be closed by the piston (50).

2. Metering device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the compensation chamber (40) is circular cylindrical in shape.

3. Metering device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the passage opening (41) is arranged in the jacket (43) of the compensation chamber (40).

4. Metering device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the filling opening (42) is arranged in the bottom (44) of the compensation chamber (40).

5. Metering device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the piston (50) divides the compensation chamber into a passage chamber (40A) and a filling chamber (40B), wherein the filling chamber (40B) is exclusively in fluid contact with or can be brought into contact with the interior of the container via the filling opening (42).

6. Metering device (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that a cross-section of the fluid connection between the interior of the container (100) and the filling chamber (40B) is unchangeable. Metering device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a ventilation opening (102) for ventilating the interior of the container (100) is arranged in the metering device (100). Metering device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the piston (50) is arranged to float freely in the compensation chamber (40). Metering device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the metering device (100) has an adjustment device (60) for regulating a clear cross-section of the passage opening (41). Metering device (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the adjustment device (60) is arranged to be rotatable. Metering device (100) according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the discharge opening (31) is arranged on the adjustment device (60).Metering device (100) according to any one of claims 9 to 11 and claim 7, characterized in that the ventilation opening (102) is arranged on the adjustment device (60). Container comprising a metering device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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