SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RE-FILLING A BOTTLE WITH LIQUID

Abstract

System for refilling with liquid a bottle (R) to be refilled which comprises a pump (2) and which is arranged in an inverted position above a source bottle (S) containing liquid. The system comprises: - a liquid transfer conduit (Ct) for transferring liquid from the bottle (S) to the inverted bottle (R) through an open orifice (o1, o2) of the pump in the depressed position, - a gas suction system (Cag) configured to suck gas contained in the inverted bottle (R) through one or more open internal valves (Ch, Cb) of the pump, - a compensation gas supply (Agc) which is configured to allow an introduction of compensation gas into the first bottle (S). Figure for abstract: Fig.3.

Description

Title of the invention: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REFILLING A BOTTLE WITH LIQUID Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of liquid refilling, or refilling, a bottle to be refilled from a source bottle called a refill. The present invention relates more particularly to a system for refilling at least one bottle to be refilled from a refill via a filling interface with liquid and also to a method for refilling at least one bottle to be refilled from a refill via a filling interface with liquid. Prior art

[0002] Patent FR 3 037 577 discloses a system for refilling a bottle with liquid which comprises: - a first bottle, called the source bottle, containing liquid and comprising a bottom at one end and an opening for the liquid to exit the bottle at an opposite end, the opening being located above the bottom, - a second bottle to be refilled with the liquid from the first bottle, the second bottle comprising a bottom at one end and a pump mounted on the bottle at an opposite end, the pump being equipped with a venting orifice which is adapted to be opened or closed depending on the position of the pump, the second bottle being in an inverted position with the pump located below the bottom of said bottle, - a filling interface arranged between the two bottles and comprising, on the one hand, a liquid passage for transferring the liquid under pressure from the first bottle to the second bottle turned upside down through the open venting orifice of the pump of said second bottle and, on the other hand, an air passage for evacuating the air contained in the second bottle turned upside down to the outside of said bottle.

[0003] Such a system is operated by pressurizing the liquid present in the source bottle (for example, by sending pressurized air into the source bottle) and the pressure applied to this liquid causes the liquid to rise through the liquid passage of the filling interface and pass through the vent orifice of the pump of the bottle to be refilled, to fill the latter. The air which is present in the bottle to be refilled is evacuated from the latter via an air passage arranged in the filling interface. This technology is used effectively to refill bottles without having to remove the pump equipping these bottles and without calling into question the very design of the bottles existing on the market. Indeed, such a The pump is quite often mounted on the bottle in such a way as to make its removal impossible, or very difficult, without damaging the pump and / or the bottle.

[0004] Although this technology is very satisfactory, it nevertheless remains to improve the precision of the dosage when refilling the bottle to be refilled. Indeed, when trying to dose the quantity of liquid which is transferred with the technology set out above, we encounter difficulties when the liquid is a perfume and therefore contains alcohol.

[0005] To control the volume of liquid transferred from the source bottle to the bottle to be refilled, several possibilities can be considered.

[0006] A first possibility consists of controlling the rise in pressure of the air which is evacuated from the bottle to be refilled by measuring the pressure of this air contained in a container. To the extent that alcohol is likely to expand at the slightest rise in temperature and, as it is contained in a closed environment, the expansion of the alcohol also generates a rise in pressure. However, to the extent that the pressures involved are very low (often of the order of a few tenths of a bar), a rise in pressure can disturb the consistency between the measured pressure and the volume of liquid transferred to the bottle to be refilled.

[0007] A second possibility consists of measuring the quantity of pressurized air which is introduced into the source bottle to deduce the quantity of liquid transferred to the bottle to be refilled. However, the air / liquid percentage in the source bottle varies according to the level of the liquid in this bottle, in particular depending on whether the bottle is full or almost empty. Thus, the ratio between the volume of air introduced into the source bottle and the liquid transferred into the bottle to be refilled varies according to the filling level of the source bottle. Obtaining a reliable and repetitive dosage therefore becomes very difficult.

[0008] A third possibility is to measure the liquid in the bottle to be refilled. However, this is not possible when the bottle is opaque or the shape of the bottles is such that it deflects the light rays. In addition, the manufacturing processes for glass bottles can lead to variations in the internal volumes of these bottles, which can lead, for the same level of liquid measured on two different bottles, to variations in internal volume and therefore to inaccuracies in the dosage of the transferred liquid.

[0009] There is therefore a need to be able to refill a bottle equipped with a pump without having to remove this pump and without calling into question the very design of the bottles existing on the market, while making it possible to control more precisely than before the dose of liquid which is transferred from the first bottle (source) to the second bottle to be refilled. Statement of the invention

[0010] The invention thus relates to a system for refilling a bottle with liquid, comprising: -at least one first bottle S containing liquid and comprising a bottom at one end and an opening for the liquid to exit from the bottle at an opposite end, the opening being located above the bottom, -at least one second bottle R to be refilled with the liquid from the first bottle S, the second bottle R comprising a bottom at one end and a pump mounted on the bottle at an opposite end, the pump being equipped with at least one orifice which is capable of being either open for communication of the interior of the second bottle R with the exterior of the second bottle along a first path internal to the second bottle R, or closed, respectively depending on the depressed position or not of the pump, the second bottle R being in the inverted position with the pump located below the bottom of the second bottle, the pump comprising one or more internal valves which are open or closed to communicate or not the interior of the inverted second bottle R with the exterior of said bottle along a second path internal to the second bottle R, - at least one liquid transfer conduit which is configured to transfer liquid from the first bottle S to the inverted second bottle R through said at least one open orifice of the pump in the depressed position, - a gas suction system which is configured to suck gas contained in the second inverted bottle R through the open internal valve(s) of the pump, - at least one compensation gas supply which is configured to allow an introduction of compensation gas into the first bottle.

[0011] The aforementioned system makes it possible to simply and efficiently transfer liquid from the first bottle (source) to the second bottle to be refilled (turned upside down) with the liquid contained in the first bottle by sucking up, with the gas suction system, the gas (e.g. air) contained in the bottle to be refilled. This suction causes a depression inside the bottle to be refilled, which depression causes the transfer of liquid (rising of the liquid by suction) through said at least one liquid transfer conduit and said at least one open orifice of the pump (this orifice is conventionally called a vent orifice), from the first bottle to the second inverted bottle R.By causing the transfer of liquid by suction, from the suction of the gas contained in the second inverted bottle, the volume (dose) of liquid transferred is controlled relatively precisely because it corresponds to the volume of the gas sucked up, which is not possible when the transfer of liquid is carried out in particular by exerting pressure on the liquid present in the source bottle. Furthermore, by causing the . liquid transfer from the suction of the gas contained in the second inverted bottle, the problems of liquid leakage likely to occur when the liquid is transferred under the effect of pressure applied in the source bottle are avoided. The gestures for implementing such a system are particularly simple for the user since it is generally sufficient for him to turn over the bottle to be refilled and to push the pump of this bottle. It will be noted that the communication of the interior of the second inverted bottle R with the exterior of the second bottle through said at least one open pump orifice defines a first fluid path (liquid) by which the liquid is transferred to the second bottle.When the bottle equipped with its pump is used conventionally, this orifice is used to balance the pressures between the inside and the outside of the bottle, following this first path, when liquid is conventionally dispensed through the internal valve(s) of the pump and the actuating rod of this pump following a second path. The part of the pump which comprises the internal valve(s) (and the actuating rod) defines a second fluid (gas) path distinct from the first fluid path by which the gas contained in the second bottle is sucked out of it. Conventionally, the internal valve(s) of the pump are used for the conventional action of pumping liquid when the bottle equipped with its pump is used according to the prior art. This or these valve(s) are distinct from said at least one aforementioned orifice of the first fluid path.

[0012] According to other possible characteristics: -the gas suction system comprises: a gas suction conduit connected to the pump and a gas suction device configured to generate a suction force and which is connected to the gas suction conduit; - said at least one supply of compensation gas comprises a supply conduit for compensation gas which is connected to the first bottle S; alternatively, the supply of compensation gas can be carried out by simply opening the first bottle S to the outside when the gas is air; -the system comprises a filling interface which comprises said at least one liquid transfer conduit; the liquid transfer conduit can extend inside the first bottle S towards the bottom and as close as possible to the latter in order to have access to the largest possible quantity of liquid from this bottle; - the filling interface also comprises the gas suction duct and / or the compensation gas supply duct; alternatively, the compensation gas supply duct may not be part of the interface, in particular when the gas is air and the first bottle S is simply open to the outside to allow the introduction of compensation air; -the second bottle R comprises a dip tube which extends from the pump towards the bottom of the second bottle R, the gas suction system being configured to suck gas contained in the inverted second bottle R through the open internal valve(s) of the pump (second fluid path) and the dip tube; -the gas is for example air but it could alternatively be a neutral gas (e.g. nitrogen).

[0013] The invention also relates to a method for refilling a bottle with liquid, characterized in that the method is implemented using a system which comprises: -at least one first bottle S containing liquid and comprising a bottom at one end and an opening for the liquid to exit from the bottle at an opposite end, the opening being located above the bottom, -at least one second bottle R to be refilled with the liquid from the first bottle S, the second bottle R comprising a bottom at one end and a pump mounted on the bottle at an opposite end, the pump being equipped with at least one orifice which is capable of being either open for communication of the interior of the second bottle R with the exterior of said second bottle along a first path internal to the second bottle R, or closed, respectively depending on the depressed position or not of the pump, the second bottle R being in the inverted position with the pump located below the bottom of said second bottle, the pump comprising a part integrating one or more internal valves which are open or closed to communicate or not the interior of the inverted second bottle R with the exterior of said bottle along a second path internal to the second bottle R, the method comprising: -pressing the pump of the second inverted bottle R so as to open said at least one orifice, - the suction of the gas contained in the second inverted bottle R through the open internal valve(s) of the pump in order to create, inside the second inverted bottle R, a vacuum, - the transfer of the liquid from the first bottle S to the second inverted bottle R through said at least one open orifice of the pump, - the introduction of compensation gas into the first bottle S to compensate for the liquid transferred from the first bottle S to the second inverted bottle R.

[0014] The method has the same advantages as those mentioned above in relation to the system and they will therefore not be repeated.

[0015] Furthermore, the steps of the method mentioned above are not necessarily all carried out in the order in which they appear, nor simultaneously. Thus, the suction of the gas contained in the second inverted bottle R and the transfer of the Liquid transfer can take place in two stages. For example, the pump can be depressed after the gas is drawn in. Alternatively, the pump can be depressed before the gas is drawn in. In this case, when the gas is drawn in, the vacuum created inside the second inverted bottle causes the liquid to transfer. Note that the pump can be depressed and the drawn in can also take place at the same time.

[0016] According to other possible characteristics: - the pump of the second inverted bottle R is pressed down by placing the second inverted bottle R in vertical support on a support or by downward vertical support on the second inverted bottle R; -the method comprises generating a suction force and applying this suction force to the part of the pump which incorporates the internal valve(s). Brief description of the drawings

[0017] Other characteristics and advantages will appear during the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0018] [Fig.lA] [Fig.lA] is a simplified schematic view in longitudinal section of an internal mechanism of a refillable bottle R equipped with a pump in the rest position;

[0019] [Fig.lB] [Fig.lB] is a schematic view showing the internal mechanism of the refill bottle of [Fig.lA] when the pump is in the depressed position;

[0020] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic general view of a refilling system in liquid according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0021] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a possible embodiment of the system of [Fig.2];

[0022] [Fig.4A] [Fig.4A] is a schematic view in longitudinal section of a complete refilling system repeating the system of [Fig.3] and integrating a gas suction device, illustrating a first stage of operation;

[0023] [Fig.4B] [Fig.4B] is a schematic view of the system of [Fig.4B], illustrating a second stage of operation;

[0024] [Fig.5A] [Fig.5A] is a schematic view of a possible embodiment for the insertion of the pump of the bottle R of figures 4A-B, with the bottle R in a first position;

[0025] [Fig.5B] [Fig.5B] is a schematic view illustrating the embodiment of [Fig.5A], with the bottle R in a second position (pump depressed);

[0026] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a schematic view in longitudinal section of a complete refilling system repeating the system of [Fig.3] and integrating a gas suction device different from that of figures 4A-B. Description of the embodiments

[0027] The invention which is described below with reference to the appended drawings relates in particular to a system for refilling a bottle or container with liquid and an associated method. Generally, the bottle to be refilled or refilled, denoted R, has already been used to dispense liquid such as a fragrance or another liquid which has been consumed and the bottle must therefore be refilled to the extent that it is empty or almost empty.

[0028] Figures 1A and 1B illustrate an example of a possible embodiment of a conventional type refillable bottle R. In [Fig.1A] the bottle R is at rest (not in use) with its pump (not removable or removable) in the high position and in [Fig.1B], the bottle is in use with its pump pushed into the low position. Generally speaking the bottle R comprises a container 1, for example rigid, in particular made of glass, with liquid (e.g. perfume), a pump 2 mounted through the opening 3 of the bottle and which comprises an upper part, movable by vertical sliding in a fixed part 4. The fixed part 4 is fixed to the bottle, at its upper end 4a, by means of a crimping cap CL. The hollow fixed part 4 of the pump extends inside the bottle and is connected, at its lower end 4b, to a suction tube t plunging into the liquid of the bottle.The hollow fixed part 4 of the pump also comprises a low valve Cb, for example of the ball type, which is closed in the position of [Fig.lA] in order to prevent the passage of liquid from the bottle into the chamber 4c of the hollow fixed part 4 of the pump. The movable upper part of the pump comprises a hollow actuating rod 5 which projects, by an upper end 5a opening beyond the capsule C1 and which rests at its opposite lower end 5b on a piston-forming part 6. The piston-forming part 6 is mounted on a return spring 7 and is able to slide vertically in the chamber 4c of the fixed part 4 of the pump. At the lower end 5b of the actuating rod 5 a high valve Ch, for example of the ball type, is provided to allow, depending on the position of the valve, here of the ball (valve closed in the position of [Fig.lA]), the passage of liquid from the chamber 4c inside the actuating rod 5.The bottle R also includes a dispensing pusher or diffuser 8 mounted on the opening end 5a of the actuating rod and on which the user exerts downward vertical pressure (as indicated by the arrow in [Fig.lB]) in order to dispense liquid (e.g. perfume) from the container, through the pump, then to the outside. It will be noted that when the user presses the dispensing pusher 8 ([Fig.lB]), the actuating rod 5 of the pump is pushed into the low position. In this position, a peripheral orifice ol surrounding the actuating rod 5 is open so as to allow the entry of air. external compensation air inside the fixed part 4 of the pump. Furthermore, in this position, the piston 6 on which the actuating rod 5 rests descends below an opening o2 made in the wall of the fixed part 4 of the pump. Thus, the external air surrounding the bottle can be introduced through the peripheral orifice ol (venting) around the rod, then through the opening o2 in the wall to penetrate inside the container and thus compensate for the volume of liquid dispensed by the pump. The passage thus created for the compensation air (orifice ol and opening o2) when the pump is pressed constitutes a venting of the bottle R which is used in the embodiments of the following figures (after removal of the dispensing pusher of figures 1A-B) to introduce liquid into the inverted bottle to be refilled R, from the liquid in the source bottle.

[0029] [Fig.2] represents an SR system for refilling a refill bottle with liquid. fill R (called the second bottle) from a source bottle or container S (refill) which contains liquid (called the first bottle). In this figure, bottles R and S have been deliberately simplified for the purposes of the presentation.

[0030] The bottle to be refilled R comprises, in a known manner, a base RI at one of its two opposite ends and a pump P, illustrated schematically in dotted lines (this pump can take for example the form of the pump 2 of figures 1A-B), mounted on the bottle at the other opposite end R2. The pump P is equipped with at least one orifice (conventionally called vent on the bottles) which is capable of being either opened for communication of the interior of the bottle to be refilled R with the exterior of said bottle (through a first fluid path) or closed, respectively depending on the pushed-in position or not of the pump. The bottle to be refilled R is placed in the upside-down position with the pump P located below the base RI of the bottle.The pump P also comprises one or more internal valves (here the pump comprises two internal valves but, for example, the pump may only have one, for example the one marked Ch in the figure and the valve marked Cb may, for its part, be arranged outside the pump and for example at one end of the dip tube t) which are open or closed to put the inside of the inverted bottle R into communication or not with the outside of said bottle (through a second fluid path distinct from the first fluid path). The bottle to be refilled R may take, for example, the shape of the bottle illustrated in figures 1A and 1B or another shape insofar as it comprises at least the components identified above during the description of [Fig.2].

[0031] The source bottle S (refill), for its part, contains liquid and comprises a bottom SI at one of its two opposite ends and an opening for the exit of the liquid from the bottle at the other opposite end S2, the opening S2 being located above the bottom SI (normal position of use of the bottle). The volume of liquid contained in the bottle source can be for example 300mL. A possible example of a source bottle is illustrated in the following figures and will be described in more detail with reference to these figures.

[0032] As schematically shown in [Fig.2], the SR system further comprises - at least one liquid transfer conduit Ct (here the system comprises only one) which is configured to transfer liquid from the source bottle S to the returned bottle to be refilled R, through said at least one open orifice of the pump in the depressed position (here the liquid transfer conduit Ct extends into the source bottle S and is shown in dotted lines inside the source bottle S), - a gas suction system Sag which is configured to suck gas contained in the bottle to be refilled R through the open internal valve(s) of the pump, - at least one Age compensation gas supply (here the system comprises only one) which is configured to allow the introduction of compensation gas into the source bottle S.

[0033] Generally speaking, the liquid transfer conduit Ct extends between the two bottles S and R and is connected to each of them so as to be able to put them in fluid communication with each other, in particular when said at least one orifice of the pump is open (pump in the depressed position). The gas suction system Sag is here arranged outside the bottle R and, depending on its size, it can be placed in whole or in part between the two bottles. The supply of compensation gas Age can, for its part, also be arranged in whole or in part between the two bottles depending on its size. If the gas to be compensated in the bottle S is air (the gas to be sucked from the bottle R will then also be air), the supply of air into the bottle S can be carried out very simply by a simple conduit or orifice putting the air outside the source bottle S into communication with the inside of this bottle.The source bottle S is thus permanently at atmospheric pressure.

[0034] In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.2], the liquid transfer conduit Ct, the gas suction system Sag and the compensation gas supply Age are separate elements distinct from each other. However, some of these elements, for example, the liquid transfer conduit Ct and the gas suction system Sag, may be part of the same filling interface (not shown here) generally arranged between the two bottles. Alternatively, only the liquid transfer conduit Ct may be part of a filling interface generally arranged between the two bottles.

[0035] It will be noted that the Sag gas suction system may comprise (in a manner not shown in [Fig.2]): - a gas suction pipe connected to the pump and -a gas suction device configured to generate a suction force and which is connected to the gas suction line. The gas suction device can take different forms, its function being to create a gas suction force which will be communicated to the gas suction line and to the internal mechanism of the pump P which is in fluid connection with the interior of the bottle R. The fluid connection is established via an internal fluid path distinct and separate from the fluid path taken by the liquid which is introduced into the bottle R through the open orifice of the pump when the latter is in the pushed-in position inside the bottle.

[0036] Whatever the intrinsic configuration of the elements Ct, Sag and Age defined above, as well as their overall configuration (relative to each other), the operating principle is the same: the liquid contained in the source bottle S is transferred to the returned bottle to be refilled R under the effect of a suction force which originates in the returned bottle to be refilled R as a result of this bottle being placed under depression under the suction action exerted by the gas suction system Sag.

[0037] The aforementioned system makes it possible to dose in a controlled, precise and regular manner the volume of liquid which is transferred from the source bottle S to the bottle to be refilled R by sucking the gas (e.g.: air) from the bottle to be refilled to the extent that the volume of gas (e.g.: air) sucked corresponds to the volume of liquid sucked. The dosage does not depend on the passage sections defined in the pump. In addition, the precision of the dosage is little impacted by temperature variations. Furthermore, with this system which operates by suction, there is no possible leakage of liquid between the different components of the system. In addition, the gas suction system is not in contact with the liquid (the liquid is not sucked by the system, only gas is sucked), which proves advantageous to the extent that a liquid such as perfume can cause, over time, deterioration of the parts of the system in contact with this liquid (due to chemical attacks).

[0038] We will now describe with reference to [Fig. 3] an example of a possible embodiment of a system SR for refilling a bottle to be refilled R with liquid from a source bottle S (refill) in accordance with the general description of [Fig. 2]. In this example, the bottle to be refilled R takes the form of the bottle of figures 1A-B and its constituent elements will therefore not be described again. Other embodiments of the bottle to be refilled are of course conceivable. Furthermore, the gas referred to in the description of [Fig. 2] is here air but the description obviously applies to a gas other than air such as an inert gas (e.g. nitrogen) with which the liquid would be in contact in the two bottles.

[0039] The source bottle S is more detailed than in [Fig.2] and, in particular, comprises, at one of its two opposite ends (lower end), the aforementioned bottom SI and, at its upper opposite end S2, a neck C externally bordering an opening O by which the liquid can enter or exit the bottle. In this exemplary embodiment, the external envelope of the bottle S is rigid. It should be noted, however, that other alternative embodiments are possible for the source bottle.

[0040] The refilling system SR here comprises a filling interface I which is arranged between the source bottle S and the bottle to be refilled R and integrates, in the same structure or block of material, all of the elements described above, namely: - at least one liquid transfer conduit Ct (here the system comprises only one) which is configured to transfer liquid from the source bottle S to the returned bottle to be refilled R, through said at least one open orifice ol, o2 of the pump 2 in the depressed position; here the liquid transfer conduit Ct extends vertically over the entire height of the block of the interface I, into the source bottle S in the form of a dip tube or suction tube T (the tube T extends substantially vertically, inside the bottle up to a distance close to the bottom SI thereof so as to be able to suck, by its lower end Tl, as much liquid L contained in the bottle as possible) which is an integral part of the filling interface I; however, in a configuration not shown, the tube T may be connected to the interface and not form a single piece with the latter; - a gas suction system Sag which is configured to suck gas contained in the bottle to be refilled R through the open internal valves Ch and Cb of the pump 2; in [Fig. 3], only one of the components of the system Sag is shown, namely the gas suction conduit Cag which is connected to the end 5a of the hollow actuating rod 5 of the pump; the conduit Cag takes for example the form of an elbow in order to communicate with the rod 5 of the pump along a vertical portion Cagl and to laterally offset the emerging end of the conduit (along a horizontal portion Cag2) for fluid communication with a gas suction device offset laterally but not shown; - at least one compensation gas supply Age (here the system comprises only one) which is configured to allow an introduction of compensation gas into the source bottle S; this compensation gas supply Age here comprises a compensation gas supply conduit Cage (here an angled conduit) which is connected to the source bottle S and in particular to its opening O; the gas being air, the conduit Cage simply puts the outside of the bottle in communication with the inside thereof.

[0041] In the embodiment of [Fig. 3], the interface I comprises a lower end II and an opposite upper end 12 which are configured to interface respectively with the source bottle (for fluid communication, in particular of liquid) and the pump 2 of the bottle to be refilled R (for fluid communication, in particular of gas) and, in particular, respectively with the orifice ol (venting orifice) and the interior of the actuating rod 5.

[0042] As shown in [Fig. 3], the lower end II forms a cavity which has on its internal surface a thread fl intended to cooperate with a complementary thread made on the external surface of the neck C of the source bottle to allow the interface to be fixed to the source bottle. A seal J1 may be present and, for example, mounted between the bottom of the cavity and the horizontal upper edge of the neck C. It will be noted that other connecting or interfacing means may alternatively be envisaged between the interface I and the source bottle S.

[0043] As shown in [Fig. 3], the upper end 12 is substantially flat and has a locally hollowed-out portion in line with, on the one hand, the conduit Cag (in particular the vertical portion Cagl) in order to receive the end 5a of the rod 5 (for a stop) and, for example, to accommodate a seal J2 between this end and the structure of the interface and, on the other hand, the upper end Ctl of the liquid transfer conduit Ct which is here slightly deviated relative to the vertical arrangement of the conduit Ct in order to move transversely closer to the rod 5 and the orifice ol. It will be noted that other connecting or interfacing means can alternatively be envisaged between the interface I and the bottle to be refilled R.

[0044] In [Fig. 3], the structure of the interface integrates inside the block that it forms the different conduits or channels Ct, Cag and Age for the passage of the different fluids, in the direction indicated by the arrows and according to the operating principle stated above in relation to [Fig. 2]: suction of the gas into the bottle to be refilled R so as to create, in the latter, a depression which has the effect of sucking the liquid present in the source bottle S through the conduit Ct. It will be noted that to carry out this transfer of liquid, the pump 2 of the bottle to be refilled R must be in the pushed-in position, that is to say that the actuating rod 5 must be pushed in (partially retracted inside the bottle but still protruding by its free end 5a), thus making it possible to open the orifice ol, as well as the orifice o2. Similarly, for the inside of the bottle to be refilled (upper part in [Fig.3], above the liquid level 1 in the bottle and including the upper free end of the dip tube t) is subjected to a suction force, the two valves Ch and Cb must be open, which is particularly possible when the pump is in the depressed position. It should be noted that other types of valve, other than ball valves, can be used.

[0045] Figures 4A and 4B illustrate a possible example of an embodiment of a gas suction system Sag which can functionally cooperate with the filling interface I of [Fig.3] by means of some internal arrangements thereof to accommodate valves, for example in the laterally offset part of the interface, where the gas suction device Dag is arranged. In Figures 4A-B, the bottle R is in the upside-down position and the pump is pressed, thus allowing the opening of the orifices ol and o2. The internal valves Ch and Cb are also in the open position.

[0046] The filling interface I' of Figures 4A-B incorporates, in addition to the interface I of [Fig.3], two internal flaps or valves VI, V2 which are both mounted on the conduit Cag, in particular here on its horizontal part Cag2 for reasons of geometric size. The first valve V1 is arranged in the upper part of the interface I' in relation to the part Cag2 of the conduit, while the second valve V2 is arranged in the lower part of the interface I' in relation to a vertical conduit Cag3 connected to the part Cag2. The valve V2 is arranged downstream of the position of the valve V1 on the path indicated by the arrow which illustrates the path of the gas drawn out of the bottle R. Each of the valves VI, V2 comprises a movable member in a housing, for example mounted on a spring and which is capable, by its position in the housing, of closing the conduit on which the valve is mounted.

[0047] The gas suction device Dag is connected laterally to a lateral opening end Cag4 of the conduit Cag (here by mechanical fitting) and takes the form of a piston Dagl which can move by sliding inside a body Dag2 (like a syringe).

[0048] [Fig.4A] illustrates a first position of implementation of the gas suction system for suctioning the gas present in the inverted bottle out of this bottle. In this position, the valve VI is open, that is to say it allows the fluid to circulate freely in the conduit Cag, while the valve V2 is closed, that is to say it prohibits any communication between the conduit Cag and the outside of the interface and the Sag system. To do this, the piston Dagl is pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow Fl, away from the body Dag2 so as to create a suction force in the chamber internal to the body Dag2 (the aspirated gas fills the internal volume of the chamber of the body Dag2) and in the conduit Cag, and thus into the internal space El of the bottle R, through the second fluid path which passes through the actuating rod 5 and the internal mechanism of the pump integrating the two internal valves Ch, Cb, then the tube t.The volume drawn into the internal chamber of the body Dag corresponds to the volume of liquid transferred from the source bottle S to the inverted bottle R during the gas drawing step. When the drawing stops, the liquid from bottle S stops rising in the conduit Ct.

[0049] [Fig.4B] illustrates a second position of implementation of the gas suction system in which the valve V1 is closed, thus preventing any communication between the device Dag and the inside of the bottle R. The valve V2 is open and the piston Dag1 is pushed back towards the body Dag2 in the direction indicated by the arrow F2 in order to expel the gas contained in the chamber of the body Dag2 outside of it and to push it into the internal conduit Cag2, then into the conduit Cag3 and into the tube associated with the valve V2 in order to be evacuated outside the interface I', following the path indicated by the arrows. This applies particularly when the gas is air. Then, a new gas suction-evacuation cycle can be carried out. It should be noted that it is not mandatory to evacuate the gas outside and it can in particular be stored in an external container following the same principle of evacuation outside the internal chamber of the Dag2 body. Alternatively, the filling capacity of the internal chamber of the Dag2 body can be large enough to allow the transfer of the necessary volume of liquid from the source bottle S to the bottle R (complete re-filling) without needing to carry out the operation of [Fig.4B] between two suction steps. It should be noted that the operations of Figures 4A-B can be carried out manually.

[0050] Figures 5A and 5B illustrate a possible example of positioning the inverted bottle R with the pump 2 in the depressed position for the refilling system of Figures 4A-B. The references of Figures 4A-B concerning the suction system are not reported on Figures 5A-B for the sake of clarity of the drawings.

[0051] The end 5a of the actuating rod 5 of the pump is placed in abutment at the bottom of a recess made locally in the upper part of the filling interface I' (at the right of the conduit Cagl), as explained with reference to [Fig.3].

[0052] The system of [Fig.5A] comprises a chassis 20 comprising, in the lower part, a base 22 on which the source bottle S rests. The chassis extends vertically along the re-filling system (bottles and filling interface) by means of a vertical upright 24 and carries, in its upper part, a motor 26 whose output shaft 26a carries a pinion 28 which cooperates by mechanical meshing with a rack 30. The rack 30 is linked to a plate 32 arranged above the bottom of the inverted bottle R.

[0053] As shown in [Fig.5B], when the motor 26 is operated, it lowers the rack 30 along the vertical arrow, which has the effect of placing the plate 32 against the bottom of the bottle R and pressing on the latter, thus causing the pump 2 to be pushed in since its actuating rod 5 was previously in abutment against the interface as explained previously. The vertical pushing in of the pump 2 allows the opening of the orifices ol and o2 described above. The internal valves Ch and Cb are also open. It will be noted that other systems, in particular mechanized ones, for positioning the inverted bottle R with the pump 2 in the pushed-in position are conceivable. For example, the pushing in of the pump can be manual.

[0054] [Fig.6] illustrates another possible embodiment of a suction system gas suction system Sag' which operates with a filling interface such as that, I, of [Fig.3]. The gas suction system Sag' comprises, in addition to the conduit Cag, a gas suction device Dag' comprising a vacuum pump Dagl' whose body is connected by a tube Dag2' to the interface I, for example by fitting its end opening into the free end Cag' of the conduit Cag. A vacuum sensor Dag3' is for example mounted on the tubing in order to be able to control the suction of gas which, here, is evacuated as indicated by the arrow F3. Other device arrangements are of course possible.

Claims

Claims

1. System for refilling a bottle with liquid, comprising: -at least one first bottle (S) containing liquid and comprising a bottom at one end (SI) and an opening (O) for the liquid to exit from the bottle at an opposite end (S2), the opening being located above the bottom, -at least one second bottle (R) to be refilled with the liquid from the first bottle (S), the second bottle (R) comprising a bottom at one end (RI) and a pump (P; 2) mounted on the bottle at an opposite end (R2), the pump (2) being equipped with at least one orifice (ol, o2) which is capable of being either open for communication of the interior of the second bottle (R) with the exterior of said second bottle along a first path internal to the second bottle (R), or closed, respectively depending on the depressed position or not of the pump, the second bottle (R) being in the inverted position with the pump (P; 2) located below the bottom of said second bottle, the pump comprising one or more internal valves (Ch, Cb) which are open or closed to communicate or not the interior of the inverted second bottle (R) with the exterior of said bottle along a second path internal to the second bottle (R), characterized in that the system further comprises: - at least one liquid transfer conduit (Ct) which is configured to transfer liquid from the first bottle (S) to the second inverted bottle (R) through said at least one open orifice (ol, o2) of the pump in the depressed position, - a gas suction system (Sag; Sag') which is configured to suck gas contained in the second inverted bottle (R) through the open internal valve(s) (Ch, Cb) of the pump, - at least one compensation gas supply (Age) which is configured to allow an introduction of compensation gas into the first bottle (S).

2. System for refilling a bottle with liquid according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas suction system (Sag; Sag') comprises: - a gas suction duct (Cag) connected to the pump (2) and - a gas suction device (Dag; Dag') configured to generate a suction force and which is connected to the gas suction conduit (Cag).

3. System for refilling a bottle with liquid according to claim 2, characterized in that said at least one supply of compensation gas (Age) comprises a supply conduit for compensation gas which is connected to the first bottle (S).

4. System for refilling a bottle with liquid according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a filling interface (I; I') which comprises said at least one liquid transfer conduit (Ct).

5. System for refilling a bottle with liquid according to claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the filling interface (I; I') also comprises the gas suction conduit (Cag) and / or the compensation gas supply conduit (Acg).

6. System for refilling a bottle with liquid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second bottle (R) comprises a dip tube (t) which extends from the pump (2) towards the bottom of the second bottle (R), the gas suction system (Sag; Sag') being configured to suck gas contained in the inverted second bottle (R) through the open internal valve(s) (Ch, Cb) of the pump and the dip tube.

7. Method for refilling a bottle with liquid, characterized in that the method is implemented from a system which comprises: -at least one first bottle (S) containing liquid and comprising a bottom at one end (SI) and an opening (0) for the exit of the liquid from the bottle at an opposite end (S2), the opening being located above the bottom, -at least one second bottle (R) to be refilled with the liquid from the first bottle (S), the second bottle (R) comprising a bottom at one end (RI) and a pump (P;2) mounted on the bottle at an opposite end (R2), the pump (2) being equipped with at least one orifice (ol, o2) which is capable of being either open for communication of the interior of the second bottle (R) with the exterior of said second bottle along a first path internal to the second bottle (R), or closed, respectively depending on the pushed-in position or not of the pump, the second bottle (R) being in the inverted position with the pump (P; 2) located below the bottom of said second bottle, the pump (2) comprising a part integrating one or more internal valves (Ch, Cb) which are open or closed to communicate or not; the inside of the second inverted bottle (R) with the outside of said bottle following a second path internal to the second bottle (R), the method comprising: -pressing the pump (P; 2) of the second inverted bottle (R) so as to open said at least one orifice (ol, o2), -sucking the gas contained in the second inverted bottle (R) through the open internal valve(s) (Ch, Cb) of the pump in order to create, inside the second inverted bottle (R), a depression which has the effect of causing the transfer of the liquid from the first bottle (S) to the second inverted bottle (R) through said at least one open orifice (ol, o2) of the pump, -introducing compensation gas into the first bottle (S) to compensate for the liquid transferred from the first bottle (S) to the second inverted bottle (R).

8. Method for refilling a bottle with liquid according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the insertion of the pump (P; 2) of the second inverted bottle (R) is carried out by placing the second inverted bottle (R) in vertical support on a support or by downward vertical support on the second inverted bottle (R).

9. Method for refilling a bottle with liquid according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it comprises the generation of a suction force and the application of this suction force to the part of the pump which incorporates the internal valve(s) (Ch, Cb).

10. Method for refilling a bottle with liquid according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the insertion of the pump (P; 2) of the second inverted bottle (R) is carried out before the suction of the gas contained in the second inverted bottle (R).

11. Method for refilling a bottle with liquid according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the insertion of the pump (P; 2) of the second inverted bottle (R) is carried out after the suction of the gas contained in the second inverted bottle (R).

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