A dosing device for a bag-on-valve dispenser

Abstract

A dosing device for a bag-on-valve container (1), comprising a dosing valve (7) consisting of an outer chamber (12), an inner chamber (13) and a flexible chamber (14), whereby a product (5) is dispensed from a bag(4) through the inner chamber(13) via a shaft of the activation pin (18), by means of pressure exerted by the product (5) in the outer chamber (12) on the flexible chamber (14).

Description

[0001] A dosing device for a bag-on-valve dispenser

[0002] This invention relates to a dosing device comprising a dosing valve for a so-called bag-on-valve dispenser. In particular, this invention relates to a dosing mechanism of a valve that is fitted to a bag with a product in a container and that dispenses and fills the desired amount of product by pressing an activation mechanism.

[0003] Bag-on-valve technology is generally known. A valve is fitted to a bag that contains a product and that is subsequently placed in a container. For example, the container can be a spray can, made of metal. The bag is rolled up and placed in the container. The bag is filled with product. Under pressure of a compressed gas, the contents of the bag are dispensed via a nozzle on the container. Air, nitrogen or a liquid gas are commonly used. In other words, the gas is located around the bag and does not come into contact with the contents, and therefore not with the product to be dispensed. As a result of this pressure on the bag, the product is dispensed upon activation. Such a device is described in US2008314475.

[0004] It is known from the state of the art to empty the contents of a chamber in a valve by means of a ring-shaped piston, which is moved by a gas as in US2021 / 0061544.

[0005] The important advantage of this technology is that the gas does not come into contact with the product, thus reducing the risk of contamination. This is the case, for Instance, with foodstuffs, but is not limited to this type of products, thus resulting in an important advantage. For example, this is also the case with medicines, such as with an atomiser.

[0006] With this device, a bag-on-valve dispenser, it is also possible to use the container under any angle, l.e. also upside down. The important advantage of thia is that the container is easy to use for certain applications.

[0007] This device makes it possible to dispense all sorts of products, both liquid and viscous products, thus offering a third advantage. If the device is used as an atomiser, it is possible to add a thinner or gas to the product, allowing improved atomisation of the product.

[0008] Finally, the fact that the product can be fully emptied from the bag is a fourth advantage. No product is left in the bag, thus offering both an economic and ecological advantage.

[0009] However, accurately dosing a product is an important problem with a bag-on-valve dispenser. For specific applications, an accurately measured quantity needs to be dispensed. This invention provides a solution for this problem by means of a valve that can dispense an accurately measured quantity. In particular, this invention relates to a valve with multiple chambers to accurately dose the product. The advantage of using multiple chambers is that the product can move a measured quantity within the chambers in a controlled manner and prevents contact between the product and the gas used to pressurise the product.

[0010] The invention is explained in detail by means of the following drawings:

[0011] Figure 1: side view of the container with bag-on-valve

[0012] Figure 2: detailed side view of a dosing valve

[0013] According to figure 1, a dosing device is shown, fitted with a container(1), consisting of a cylindrical body(2) with a smaller neck(3). Such containers are generally known in the state of the art and are made of a metal or plastic, but other materials can be considered as well. This container(1) holds a bag(4) that contains a product(5). This bag(4) has a dosing valve(7) fitted to its neck(6). In other words, this combination is a bag-on- valve dispensing system. The product(5) can be a liquid, but also a viscous substance or a gel. Furthermore, the product can consist of an aqueous solution or an emulsion to which a thinner, liquid gas or CO2 is added to ensure accurate atomisation. This makes it possible to accurately apply or dispense pharmaceutical and therapeutic substances with this device. It is important that the thinner, the liquid gas or the CO2 cannot be released from the product(5) due to equal pressure in all the chambers. Around the bag(4) there is a pressure medium that can be a gas(8), including a compressed or liquid gas. Because the gas(8) is located around the bag(4) and there is no contact with the product(5), the risk of contamination is nil. The gas exerts a constant pressure on the bag(4) containing the product(5). According to a particular embodiment, the gas(8) could also be replaced with a medium exerting mechanical or electrical pressure on the bag(4). The dosing valve(7) is fastened to the bag(4) by means of known techniques, such as a heat-seal weld using a fastening body(9). The bag(4) is rolled up and placed in the container(1) and the dosing valve(7) is fastened in the neck(3) of the container(1) and sealed with a seal (10). The fastening body(9) features a channel(11) that connects to the product(5) in the bag(4).

[0014] The dosing valve(7) consists of an outer chamber(12) that connects to the channel(11). The outer chamber(12) is filled with the product(5) due to the pressure around the bag(4). Consequently, this outer chamber(12) forms a shell around the other parts of the dosing valve(7). Inside the outer chamber(12) is an inner chamber(13).

[0015] This inner chamber(13) connects to a flexible chamber(14). This flexible chamber(14) is preferably made of an elastomer, an elastic material that returns to its original shape after an external load. Among other things, rubber or siloxane can be considered. The flexible chamber (14) is located between the outer chamber(12) and the inner chamber(13) of the dosing valve(7). The outer chamber (12) connects to the inner chamber(13) via passage(15). The passage(15) is also where the channel (22) discharges into the inner chamber(13).

[0016] A passage is located between the inner chamber(13) and the flexible chamber(14). Furthermore, the dosing valve(7) is fitted with an activation pin(18) that features a shaft with a bore(21). The activation pin(18) connects to rod(19), that extends into the channel(22) of the inner chamber(13). Around the channel(22) there is a guide(23) which ensures that the rod(19) always moves in the channel(22) in a centred manner. This guide(23) can consist of at least one groove. The channel (22) features a closure(16) with a deformable part near the mouth. This closure(16) is also made of an elastomer, such as siloxane, rubber or any other plastic, and is cylindrical, with a concavity at the bottom.

[0017] This makes the walls of the closure(16) deformable. This deformable closure(16) makes it possible to close the passage(15) of the channel(22) in the inner chamber(13). The shaft of the activation pin(18) features a bore(21) and is located near or in a seal(24) at the top of the inner chamber(13) of the dosing valve(7). The inner chamber (13) also includes a spring(20), extending around the rod(19).

[0018] Subsequently, the operation to dispense the product(5) from the bag(4) is explained in detail. Figure 2 provides a detailed view of the dosing valve(7). The product(5) is pressurised in bag(4) by the gas(8) around this bag(4). This means that the product is located in the outer chamber (12) through the channel(11) of the fastening body (9). Because the outer chamber(12) also connects to the inner chamber(13), the product(5) also spreads inside the inner chamber(13). Subsequently, the product(5) moves inside the flexible chamber(14) through passage(17). This means that the chambers(12,13,14) of the dosing valve (7) are entirely filled with the product due to pressure from the gas(8).

[0019] When pressing the activation pin(18) or, in other words, upon activation to dispense the product(5), the rod(19) is pushed downwards in the direction of the closure(16). Simultaneously, the spring (20) is pushed downwards in the inner chamber (13), thus tensioning the spring (20) . The closure (16) moves through the guide (23) through the channel (22) towards the passage (15) and subsequently closes it. This closes the supply of the product (5) between the outer chamber(12) and the inner chamber ( 13) . The deformation of the bottom part of the closure (16) causes the rod(19) and the activation pin(18) to be pushed further downwards, clearing the bore (21) below the seal (24) . The product (5) in the flexible chamber (14) is pushed towards the inner chamber (13) via passaged and subsequently dispensed via the bore (21) through the shaft of the activation pin (18) . As a result of the pressure of the product (5) in the outer chamber (12) on the flexible chamber (14), it is emptied. When releasing the activation pin (18), the spring (20) relaxes and the activation pin (18) is pushed upwards again to its original position, which causes the bore (21) to be closed again by the seal (24) and no product (5) can be dispensed.

[0020] The bag (4) is filled with product (5) in the following manner. When pressing the activation pin (18) through the bore (21), which is released from the seal (24), the product (5) is introduced along the shaft of the activation pin (18) via an external attachment, not shown on the figures. The product (5) is introduced into the flexible chamber(14) via the inner chamber(13) through passage(17) . The passage (15) is closed by closure (16), considering that the rod (19) moves the closure (16) in the channel(22) . The inward pressure of the product(5) on the flexible wall of the flexible chamber (14) causes the wall to deform, thus creating an opening at the bottom which causes the product(5) to flow to the outer chamber(12) and subsequently through channel(11) to the bag(4). When relaxing the spring(20), the activation pln(18) is pushed upwards again, causing the product(5) to flow from the bag(4) to the various chambers (12,13,14) due to pressure, making it ready for use.

Claims

Claims1.A dosing device comprising a container(1) which holds a bag(4) with product(5) and a dosing valve(7), fitted with a number of chambers (12,13,14), a fastening body(9) with a channel(11) and whereby the fastening body(9) is closed at the bag(4), a pressure medium(8) around the bag(4) in the container(1), an activation pin(18) with a shaft and a bore(21), closed with a seal(24) and whereby a rod(19) is moved by pressing an activation pin(18) which causes a closure(16) to move in a guide(23), thus closing a passage(15) and characterised by the fact that the dosing valve(7) features an outer chamber(12), an inner chamber(13) and a flexible chamber(14), whereby the outer chamber(12) connects to the channel(11), the inner chamber(13) connects to the outer chamber(12) via passage(15), the inner chamber connects to the flexible chamber(14) via passage(17) and whereby, upon closing the passage(15) with the closure(16), the product(5) is accurately dosed through the inner chamber(13) and via the shaft and bore(21) of the activation pin(18), as a result of the pressure in the outer chamber(12) on the flexible chamber(14).

2. A dosing device according to claim 1 and characterised by the fact that, because of equal pressure in all chambers (12,13,14), a dissolved gas remains present in the product(5).3, A dosing device according to claims 1-2 and characterised by the fact that the flexible chamber(14) is made of an elastomer.

4. A dosing device according to claims 1-3 and characterised by the fact that the flexible chamber(14) is fitted with a deformable flexible wall.

5. A dosing device according to claims 1-4 and characterised by the fact that the closure(16) comprises a cylindrical body with a concavity at the bottom, which is deformable and made of an elastomer.

6. A dosing device according to claim 5 and characterised by the fact that the bottom of the closure(16) is deformable by pressing the activation pin(18), thus releasing the bore(21) from the seal(24).

7. A dosing device according to claims 1-6 and characterised by the fact that the bag(4) can be filled with product(5) via the activation pin(18) by pressing it, through which the product(5) moves via the inner chamber(13) through passaged?) to the flexible chamber(14), and by the fact that the Inward pressure deforms the flexible wall of the flexible chamber(14) and thus causes the product(5) to flow through the outer chamber(12) to the channel(11) into the bag(4).

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