Bottle filling device with retractable cannula

Abstract

The invention relates to a bottle filling device comprising a container (1) with a neck (4) and a reservoir (2) for the liquid. The dispensing head (3), fixed to the neck, has a straight cannula (7) with a liquid conduit (8) and an air conduit (9), both opening at the free end (10) of the cannula. The cannula has transverse openings (11) and (12) for connection with the reservoir. A main body (13) forms a cylinder (15) in which the cannula is mounted to move longitudinally, while a piston (16) moves along it.The cannula (7) has a transverse stop (17) on which the piston can bear, after a first stroke, and move longitudinally the cannula (7) between a low position in which the first opening (11) and the second opening (12) are closed and a high position (7) in which the first transverse opening (11) and the second transverse opening (12) are in fluidic communication with the reservoir (2).. figure for the abbreviation: figure 2.

Description

Title of the invention: Device for filling a bottle with a retractable cannula. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of devices for filling a container with a liquid. It relates more particularly to devices for refilling, that is to say, for refilling (or "refilling", according to a common neologism), a bottle.

[0002] The present invention aims, as preferred but not exclusive applications, at refilling perfume bottles, as well as refilling bottles of liquid cosmetic products. STATE OF THE ART

[0003] Cosmetic and perfumery products, such as perfumes (including eau de parfum, eau de toilette, eau de Cologne), are generally presented in liquid form. Such a liquid product is marketed in a bottle, often a glass bottle, which is suitable for the presentation and distribution of the product.

[0004] Empty bottles are generally discarded. To avoid throwing away bottles that are often aesthetically pleasing, distinctive, and enhance the perceived value of the product they contain, and to reduce waste, the product is sometimes contained in a refill pack. This refill pack is a simple container designed to be returned in a more elaborately designed case. The case can thus facilitate product dispensing and also be aesthetically pleasing and enhance the product's perceived value through its shape, materials, etc.

[0005] This type of solution is generally well-suited to cream jars and certain oils. However, a system comprising a refill and a container can be complex to implement. Such an assembly can be heavy or fragile if a glass refill is intended for use in a glass jar (contact between two glass elements increases the risk of breakage).

[0006] Devices have therefore been developed to allow a perfume bottle to be refilled from another container which can be called a "source", which allows the bottle to be filled one or more times.

[0007] The general objective of these devices is to allow for simple and reliable filling of the bottle, without risk of splashing or overflow. Source containers with a flexible pouch have been considered (thus avoiding the need to draw air back into the container during perfume dispensing to fill a bottle), but these containers present compatibility problems with certain Perfumes, and especially those with flexible pouches, don't offer a smooth and complete flow by gravity. Furthermore, with very liquid formulas, the flexible pouch system isn't ergonomic because it's difficult to handle. Finally, for products like perfumes, which contain alcohol, there can be compatibility issues between the alcohol and the materials used to manufacture the flexible pouches.

[0008] Document EP2336079 discloses a device that aims to solve these problems. This device comprises a source container with a head having a poppet valve and two conduits, namely a liquid flow conduit and an air return conduit, arranged parallel to each other in a cannula extending from the neck of the source container to a nozzle located away from the container's reservoir. The liquid inlet in the liquid flow conduit and the air outlet in the air return conduit are both located at the valve seat, in or near the neck of the source container. Near the nozzle, the liquid outlet is located lower (during filling) than the air inlet.

[0009] The device proposed in this document is nevertheless imperfect. The cannula extending from the neck of the source container and intended to be inserted into the bottle to be filled is unsightly. Furthermore, it requires the source container to be fitted with an elongated and complex cap. Protruding from the neck of the container, this cannula, which has a relatively small cross-section, is susceptible to breakage. In addition, due to the distance required for the proper functioning of the device between the air inlet and the liquid outlet, the portion of the cannula located between these two points becomes immersed in the liquid at the end of the filling process (until the liquid reaches the air inlet, which stops the filling). However, this portion of the cannula is potentially exposed to impurities between fillings, which can contaminate or soil the product in the bottle being filled. Description of the invention

[0010] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above.

[0011] To this end, the invention relates to a device for filling a bottle with a liquid product, comprising a container having a neck forming an opening of the container and defining an axis of the neck, referred to as the longitudinal axis, and a reservoir containing said liquid product. This filling device further comprises a transfer head fixed to the neck of the container, the transfer head comprising a straight cannula extending longitudinally, said cannula comprising a liquid conduit and an air conduit extending longitudinally within the cannula, the cannula having a free end, distal to the container, where the liquid conduit and the air conduit open at the same level on the longitudinal axis. The cannula includes a first transverse opening leading into the liquid conduit and a second transverse opening leading into the air conduit.

[0012] The transfer head further comprises a main body rigidly fixed to the neck of the container, said main body forming a cylinder in which the cannula is mounted movable in longitudinal translation.

[0013] The transfer head includes a piston that moves in longitudinal translation along the cannula.

[0014] The cannula has a transverse stop configured such that, the piston being translated along the cannula from a distal position of the container towards the container, said piston rests after a first stroke on said stop, and, the piston continuing to be translated longitudinally towards the container, it moves the cannula longitudinally in said cylinder between a so-called low position of the cannula in which the first opening and the second opening are closed and a so-called high position of the cannula in which the first transverse opening and the second transverse opening are in fluidic communication with the reservoir.

[0015] The filling device proposed within the scope of the present invention thus makes it possible to fill, and in particular to refill, a bottle with a liquid product from a container constituting the source of the liquid product. Filling is achieved via a simple pressure movement on the container. Furthermore, since the pressure movement occurs in two stages, it is possible to position and connect the container to the bottle before initiating the filling process. By releasing the pressure, it is also possible to stop the filling of the bottle at any time and instantaneously, without disconnecting the container and the bottle and risking spillage of the product.

[0016] The device proposed within the framework of the present invention allows the use of liquid and air conduits with large cross-sections. The cannula can have a small amplitude movement to selectively prevent or allow the passage of liquid and air as compensation. The cannula, the cylinder in which it moves, and the sealing means are thus subject to minimal wear from repeated actuation cycles.

[0017] When the piston is in the distal position of the container, it protects the cannula from the risks of damage and soiling.

[0018] Compared to systems known in the prior art, the device proposed within the scope of the present invention allows for a two-step operation (positioning on the neck, then dispensing the liquid), which limits the risks of product spillage outside the bottle and overfilling. Indeed, after positioning the cannula in the neck, it is in the desired longitudinal position, and it is only once the cannula in position that the distribution of the product is triggered by increasing the pressure longitudinally between the container and the bottle.

[0019] The first transverse opening and the second transverse opening can be located at the same longitudinal level, at a distance from the free end of the cannula.

[0020] In the filling device, the second transverse opening can be in fluidic communication with an extension of the air duct, so that the liquid duct opens into the container at a first point, and the extension of the air duct opens into the container at a second point, the second point being further longitudinally away from the mouth of the container than the first point.

[0021] The extension of the air duct can be formed by the main body.

[0022] The main body of the transfer head can be rigidly fixed to the neck of the container by snapping or by screwing tightly onto a thread of the neck of the container.

[0023] The filling device may include a first return device tending to bring the piston to a distal position of the container in the absence of external force applied to said piston.

[0024] The filling device may include a second return device tending to bring the cannula to the lower position in the absence of force exerted by the piston on the transverse stop of the cannula.

[0025] The cannula may have an end opposite its free end, said opposite end having a seal which isolates the liquid conduit and the air conduit of the reservoir from the container when the cannula is in the lower position.

[0026] The seal can be in the form of an elastomeric material cap attached or overmolded onto the opposite end of the cannula.

[0027] The seal can be configured to bear in the longitudinal direction on the main body when the cannula is in the lower position.

[0028] The first transverse opening and the second transverse opening open less than 8 mm from the opposite end of the cannula.

[0029] The transfer head may further include a nozzle that is movable in longitudinal translation within the main body.

[0030] The piston may include a seat which bears against an inner surface of the nozzle when the piston is in the distal position of the container.

[0031] The transfer head may further comprise a sleeve which surrounds the main body and which rests on a shoulder of the container located around its neck.

[0032] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a filling device as described above and a bottle, in which, when the filling head is pressed longitudinally against the neck of the bottle, the free end of The cannula is positioned longitudinally in the bottle at a desired fill level. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0033] Other advantages, purposes and particular features of the present invention will become apparent from the following non-limiting description of at least one particular embodiment of the devices and methods of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: • [Fig.1] is a schematic perspective view of a filling device according to one embodiment of the invention; • [Fig.2] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the device in [Fig.1] showing in particular the transfer head it includes; • [Fig.3] is a schematic three-dimensional view of an assembly comprising the filling device of [Fig.2] connected to a bottle; • [Fig.4] is a schematic cross-sectional view of a transfer head that can be used in an embodiment of the invention and of a bottle; • [Fig.5] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the transfer head of [Fig.4] connected to the bottle; • [Fig.6] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the transfer head of [Fig.4] connected to the bottle, in a configuration allowing the transfer of a liquid into the bottle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] The present description is given as a non-limiting example of an embodiment.

[0035] Figure 1 is a schematic view of an example of a filling device for filling a bottle with a liquid product. The filling device comprises a container 1 that forms a reservoir 2 for holding a liquid product, for example, a perfume. The liquid contained in container 1 is intended to refill a bottle, for example, a perfume bottle, once the latter has been totally or partially emptied during its use.

[0036] The filling device includes a neck which defines a longitudinal axis L, and on which a transfer head 3 is fixed.

[0037] The reservoir 2 can be made of various materials, for example glass, plastic material, metal, etc. Advantageously, but not necessarily, the wall of the container is opaque.

[0038] The filling device is intended to be placed above the bottle to be filled, with the transfer head oriented downwards, and to allow the bottle to be filled by gravity.

[0039] For this purpose, the transfer head 3 must selectively allow or prohibit the passage of the product from the container to the bottle.

[0040] Fig. 2 shows in cross-section the transfer head 3 of a filling device according to an embodiment of the invention fixed to the neck 4 of the container 1.

[0041] For example, the neck 4 may have a thread 5 onto which a corresponding thread 6 of the transfer head is screwed and tightened. Once the transfer head is tightly tightened onto the neck 4, it is immobilized, and its removal would require unscrewing force.

[0042] Optionally, elements of the neck may be provided to oppose the unscrewing of the transfer head, or, alternatively, the transfer head may include a friction device, which creates resistance to unscrewing, by friction, when the transfer head is completely screwed onto the container 1.

[0043] Alternatively, the transfer head 3 can be snapped onto the neck 4. Alternatively or in addition, a bonding can be provided between the transfer head 3 and the neck 4.

[0044] The transfer head 3 comprises a cannula 7 which extends longitudinally (in the direction of the longitudinal axis L). Two conduits extend longitudinally in the cannula 7, namely a liquid conduit 8 and an air conduit 9. The liquid conduit 8 and the air conduit 9 may have respective cross-sections of the same area, or, advantageously, the cross-section of the first portion of the liquid conduit may be greater than that of the first portion of the air conduit.

[0045] The cannula has a free end 10, which is the distal end of the cannula 7 opposite the reservoir 2. The liquid conduit 8 and the air conduit 9 both open at the free end 10 of the cannula 7. Thus, the openings of the liquid conduit 8 and the air conduit 9 are located longitudinally in the same plane. The user does not perceive, when viewing the cannula from the side, the presence of two conduits within it.

[0046] Furthermore, the liquid conduit 8 and the air conduit 9 do not open longitudinally at the opposite end (relative to the free end) of the cannula. However, the cannula 7 has a first transverse opening 11, which may be perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, which passes through the lateral wall of the cannula 7 and opens into the liquid conduit 8. The cannula 7 also has a second transverse opening 12, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, which passes through the lateral wall of the cannula 7 and opens into the air conduit 9.

[0047] In the embodiment shown here, the transfer head comprises a main body 13. The main body 13 is the part forming the structure of the transfer head. The main body notably provides the connection with the neck 4 of container 1, and thus carries in the example of embodiment shown the corresponding thread 6.

[0048] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the transfer head 3 includes a sleeve 14 which surrounds the main body 14. The sleeve 14 rests on a shoulder of the container 1 (around the neck 4) when the transfer head 3 is attached to the container 1. The sleeve thus has a protective and an aesthetic function for the transfer head 3. A cap (not shown) may nevertheless be provided to cover the transfer head.

[0049] The main body 13 further forms a cylinder 15. The cylinder 15 is a cylindrical bore whose section (circular or not) corresponds to within a small clearance that of the cannula 7. The cannula 7 is mounted in the cylinder 15, and can move longitudinally within it, between a so-called low position and a so-called high position described below.

[0050] The terms "low" and "high" relate to the orientation of the container 1 when filling a bottle: the container is then placed above the bottle, transfer head downwards, to allow transfer by gravity.

[0051] The transfer head further comprises a piston 16. The piston 16 is a part mounted movable in longitudinal translation on the cannula 7.

[0052] Thus, the piston 13 can be translated along the cannula 7.

[0053] The cannula 7 has a transverse stop 17 (i.e., substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction). The stop may be in the form of a circular flange attached to the cannula 7 or formed as a single piece with the cannula 7. The piston can thus be moved from a distal position relative to the container 1, in which an extreme surface of the piston 16 is substantially aligned with the free end of the cannula (the cannula may, however, optionally protrude slightly beyond the extreme surface 16), to a position closer to the container 1, in which the piston is in contact with the transverse stop (the cannula being in the lowered position). The continued longitudinal movement of the piston then moves the cannula towards its upper position.

[0054] A first return device 18, which in the example shown comprises a helical spring, tends to maintain and return the piston 16 to the distal position of the container. Thus, unless a force is exerted to bring and / or maintain the piston 16 closer to the container, the piston adopts its distal position.

[0055] A second return device 19, which in the example shown comprises a helical spring bearing against the transverse stop 17, tends to maintain and return the cannula to its lowered position. It is therefore the compression and release of this second return device 19 that allows the container to be opened and closed for transfer, as detailed below.

[0056] The transfer head also includes a nozzle 20.

[0057] The tip 20 is mounted to move in translation within the main body 13. For this purpose, longitudinal grooves are formed in the main body, and protruding elements of the tip 20 are housed there.

[0058] The nozzle 20 also includes a transverse wall 21. The transverse wall 21 has a central orifice. The piston 16 has a seat 22 adapted to bear against the inner surface of the nozzle, in particular around the central orifice. When the piston 16 is in its distal position relative to the container 1, it thus bears against the inner surface of the nozzle 20, under the effect of the first return device 18. A stop (for example, the bottom of the grooves formed in the main body) can limit the longitudinal movement of the nozzle 20. Thus, with the piston in its distal position, the outer surface of the transverse wall 21, the extreme surface of the piston 16, and the free end 10 of the cannula 7 can be in the same transverse plane. The cannula 7 is then completely concealed.

[0059] Optionally, as indicated above, the cannula may, however, optionally, protrude slightly beyond the extreme surface 16 and / or the transverse wall 21. This slight protrusion guides the user when placing the container on the neck of a bottle for the purpose of filling said bottle.

[0060] When transferring liquid from reservoir 2 to a bottle, piston 16 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the neck of a bottle 23 to be filled and is pressed vertically (i.e., longitudinally, with container 1 positioned above bottle 23 and its longitudinal axis vertical). Piston 16 then retracts into nozzle 20. Nozzle 20 is itself brought into contact with the shoulder of the bottle (around its neck) and retracts into the main body. By continuing to apply pressure from container 1 to bottle 23, the transfer takes place, as explained below. Figure 4 illustrates this transfer configuration.

[0061] Thus, when pressure is exerted on the container, while the piston is already in contact with the transverse stop 17 of the cannula 7, and this pressure is greater than the cumulative restoring force of the first restoring means 18 and the second restoring means 19, the cannula is moved to its high position.

[0062] The cannula has, at its opposite end 24 to the free end 10, a seal 25, which ensures the seal between the liquid conduit and the air conduit on the one hand and the reservoir 2 of the container 1 on the other hand when the cannula is in the lower position.

[0063] In the example shown, the seal 25 is in the form of a cap made of elastomeric material (such as rubber, silicone, etc.) attached to said opposite end 24. When the cannula is in the lowered position, the seal 25 bears longitudinally against the main body 13, ensuring a seal between the liquid and air conduits and the reservoir 2. When the cannula is in the raised position, pushed by the force exerted by the neck of the bottle and transmitted by the piston 16 to the transverse stop 17, the seal 25 is no longer in contact with the main body 13.

[0064] Alternatively, the joint can be radially supported in the main body 13.

[0065] The first opening 11 of the cannula 7 then opens into the container 1, towards the bottom of its neck or into the reservoir 2 at a first point, at a first longitudinal level. This first point is the point of entry of liquid into the liquid conduit.

[0066] The second opening 12 leads, in the example shown here, into an extension 26 of the air duct. The extension 26 of the air duct is a duct, for example longitudinal, which opens into the reservoir 2 at a second point, at a second longitudinal level. This second point is the outlet point into the reservoir of the air from the air duct, the air compensating for the volume of liquid product extracted from the container.

[0067] Said second point (air outlet) is further longitudinally from the mouth of the container, i.e., from the end of the neck 4, than the first point (liquid inlet). In other words, when the container is positioned with the transfer head downwards, to perform gravity filling of a bottle, the air outlet in the container is higher than the liquid inlet in the liquid conduit.

[0068] The difference in level in the container between the air outlet and the liquid inlet (the air outlet being higher) ensures the slight pressure difference in the liquid which allows the liquid to flow and the air to return in compensation.

[0069] Furthermore, when the air outlet is close to the bottom of container 1, during filling the air compensating for the transferred liquid is not released into the liquid contained in container 1 but directly into the air present in the container. This limits the noise that can occur when air is released into the liquid in the container.

[0070] Alternatively, or in addition to this difference in level, a difference in cross-sectional area between the liquid conduit and the air conduit can facilitate or even cause the flow of liquid and the return of air to compensate for the volume of liquid transferred. In this case, the cross-sectional area of ​​the liquid conduit must be greater than that of the air conduit. The average cross-sectional area of ​​the liquid conduit compared to the average cross-sectional area of ​​the air conduit can be a relevant reference.

[0071] Thus, with an appropriate difference in cross-section between the liquid conduit and the air conduit, such as the difference in cross-section shown in figures 2 and 4 to 6, it is possible to make them open at the same level, longitudinally, into the container 1 (into its neck or reservoir).

[0072] Figures 4, 5, and 6 illustrate a sequence for filling a bottle with a filling device according to another embodiment of the invention. For simplicity, the container has been omitted from the figures to show only the transfer head 3 of the filling device.

[0073] The transfer head of figures 4 to 6 is essentially similar to that shown in [Fig.2], and one can therefore refer to the preceding description except for the differences explained below.

[0074] Just like the transfer head described above, the transfer head 3 of Figures 4 to 6 comprises a main body 13 fixed to the container and forming a cylinder 15 in which a cannula 7 is mounted. The cannula 7 comprises a liquid conduit 8 and an air conduit 9 as described above, and has a seal 25 at its end opposite 24 to the free end 10. A sleeve 14 surrounds the main body 13 and forms the outer wall of the transfer head. A spacer 27 provides the interface between the main body 13 and the sleeve 14 in this embodiment.

[0075] Similarly, a piston 16 can translate along the cannula 7.

[0076] Unlike the embodiment of [Fig. 2], the transfer head 3 does not It does not include an end piece comparable to the end piece 20 of the embodiment of [Fig.2]. The piston 16 is here directly guided in translation within the main body 13, for example by longitudinal grooves formed in said main body, while protruding elements of the piston 16 are housed there to guide the piston.

[0077] Figure 4 shows the filling device (in particular its transfer head 3) just before a filling operation. The transfer head is brought over the neck of the bottle 23 to be filled. The piston 16 is brought into contact with the neck of the bottle 23. The transfer head 3 and the neck of the bottle 23 are substantially aligned with each other longitudinally. If the free end 10 of the cannula 7 protrudes slightly from the piston 16 when the latter is in the distal position relative to the container 1 (the default position in the absence of any external force applied to the piston), the portion of the cannula protruding from the piston is inserted into the neck of the bottle 23, which simplifies the alignment between the transfer head and the bottle 23.

[0078] The cannula is then in the lowered position, and the seal 25 ensures a tight seal between the reservoir of the container on the one hand and the liquid and air lines on the other. Thus, the liquid product contained in the container cannot leak.

[0079] The user then applies longitudinal pressure to the container, in the direction of the bottle. This pressure overcomes the restoring force of the first restoring device 18 and causes the piston 16 to be pushed into the transfer head 3, while the neck of the bottle 23 enters said transfer head. The piston 16 then comes into contact with the transverse stop 17, while the latter is in the lowered position. This position corresponds to the configuration shown in [Fig. 5].

[0080] In order to move the cannula 7, the user must then exert greater pressure to overcome the combined force of the first return mechanism 18, which tends to return the piston to its distal position relative to the container, and the second return mechanism 19, which tends to maintain and return the cannula 7 to its lower position. In other words, the force exerted by the first return mechanism 18 and the force exerted by the second return mechanism 19 are additive. If sufficient force is applied by the user, the cannula moves to its upper position, shown in [Fig. 6].

[0081] In the upper position of the cannula 7 shown in [Fig. 6], the seal 25 is no longer in contact with the main body 13. The first transverse opening 11 is also raised above the wall of the cylinder 5, which frees this first transverse opening 11. The liquid conduit 8 then opens into the inside of the container, into the bottom of the neck or into the reservoir thereof. Similarly, the second transverse opening 12 is brought into fluidic communication with the extension 26 of the air conduit.

[0082] The liquid in the reservoir 2 can then flow through the liquid conduit 8 to the bottle 23, while air passes from the bottle to the container through the air conduit 9 and its extension 26. The flow is thus organized due to the difference in level between the liquid outlet of the container (inlet into the liquid conduit 8) and the air outlet in said container.

[0083] Furthermore, when the filling device is in the configuration shown in [Fig.6], causing the bottle 26 to be filled, the free end 10 of the cannula 7 is at the maximum level at which the bottle 23 is to be filled.

[0084] The filling stops automatically when the liquid level in the bottle 23 reaches said free end 10. At this point, the liquid prevents air from entering the air conduit. Since compensation of the transferred liquid volume by air can no longer occur, the liquid flow stops.

[0085] Alternatively, the user can voluntarily stop the transfer before the liquid reaches this level by ceasing or reducing the longitudinal pressure exerted on the container 1. In this case, since the force exerted is less than the combined effort of the first return means 18 and the second return device 19, the cannula returns to its lowered position, and the seal 25 bears against the main body and ensures a seal between the liquid and air conduits and the container. At this stage, the transfer head and the bottle 23 can be in the configuration shown in [Fig. 5]. The neck of the bottle 23 is then still pushed into the transfer head 3, which prevents any residual drop that might escape from the cannula 7 at this time from being spilled out of the bottle.

[0086] Filling of the bottle can be continued by applying further pressure to the container, or the filling device can be disconnected from the bottle by moving away longitudinally the container and the bottle from each other. The first return device then returns the piston 16 to its distal position vis-à-vis the container 1, i.e. to the position shown in [Fig.4].

[0087] The filling device proposed within the scope of the present invention thus allows for the easy filling of a bottle from a container holding a liquid product. The filling procedure is simple and intuitive, as it simply consists of placing the container above the bottle to be filled and pressing the dispensing head of the container onto the neck of the bottle. An initial press pushes the neck of the bottle into the dispensing head, and then a greater press triggers the dispensing of the product into the bottle.

[0088] Furthermore, the device's configuration allows for the use of relatively wide channels for the liquid and for the return air to compensate for the delivered liquid. This enables rapid and consistent transfer of the liquid. The filling device proposed within the scope of the present invention also allows for automatic stopping of the filling process when a certain product level is reached in the bottle (or alternatively, a simple and intuitive manual stop). Since the product dispensing is stopped initially, before the dispensing head is disconnected from the bottle to be filled, the risk of a residual drop of liquid being spilled outside the bottle is limited.

[0089] The filling device proposed within the framework of the present invention is particularly well suited to filling a perfume bottle.

[0090] Nomenclature of reference signs: • 1. Container • 2. Reservoir • 3. Transfer head • 4. Col • 5. Neck threading • 6. Corresponding thread (of the transfer head) • 7. Cannula • 8. Liquid conduit • 9. Air duct • 10. Free end of the cannula • 11. First transverse opening (of the cannula) • 12. Second transverse opening (of the cannula) • 13. Main body (of the transfer head) • 14. Sleeve • 15. Cylinder • 16. Piston • 17. Transverse stop • 18. First recall device • 19. Second reminder device • 20. Tip • 21. Transverse wall of the nozzle • 22. Piston seat • 23. Bottle to be filled • 24. Opposite end (of the cannula) • 25. Joint • 26. Extension (of the air duct) • 27. Spacer

Claims

Demands

1. A device for filling a bottle with a liquid product, comprising a container (1) having a neck (4) forming an opening of the container and defining an axis of the neck, referred to as the longitudinal axis (L), and a reservoir (2) containing said liquid product, the filling device further comprising a dispensing head (3) fixed to the neck (4) of the container (1), the dispensing head (3) having a straight cannula (7) extending longitudinally, said cannula having a liquid conduit (8) and an air conduit (9) extending longitudinally within the cannula (7), the cannula (7) having a free end (10), distal to the container (1), into which, at the same level on the longitudinal axis, the liquid conduit (8) and the air conduit (9) open, the cannula (7) having a first transverse opening (11) opening into the liquid conduit (8) and a second transverse opening (12) opening in the air duct (9),the transfer head (3) further comprising a main body (13) rigidly fixed to the neck (4) of the container (1), said main body forming a cylinder (15) in which the cannula (7) is mounted movable in longitudinal translation, the transfer head (3) comprising a piston (16) movable in longitudinal translation along the cannula (7), the cannula (7) comprising a transverse stop (17) configured such that, the piston (16) being translated along the cannula (7) from a distal position of the container (1) towards the container (1), said piston (16) bears after a first stroke on said stop, and, the piston (16) continuing to be translated longitudinally towards the container (1),It moves the cannula (7) longitudinally within said cylinder (15) between a so-called low position of the cannula (7) in which the first opening (11) and the second opening (12) are closed, and a so-called high position of the cannula (7) in which the first transverse opening and the second transverse opening (11) are in fluidic communication with the reservoir (2).

2. Filling device according to claim 1, wherein the first transverse opening (11) and the second transverse opening (12) are located at the same level longitudinally, at a distance from the free end of the cannula (10).

3. A filling device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second transverse opening (12) is in fluidic communication with an extension (26) of the air conduit (9), such that the liquid conduit (8) opens into the container (1) at a first point, and the extension (26) of the air conduit (9) opens into the container (1) at a second point, the second point being further longitudinally away from the mouth of the container than the first point.

4. Filling device according to claim 3, wherein the extension (26) of the air duct (9) is formed by the main body (13).

5. Filling device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main body (13) is rigidly fixed to the neck (4) of the container (1) by snapping or by screwing tightly onto a thread (5) of the neck (4) of the container (1).

6. Filling device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a first return device (18) tending to bring the piston (16) into a distal position of the container (1) in the absence of an external force applied to the transfer head (3) said piston (16).

7. Filling device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a second return device (19) tending to bring the cannula (7) into a low position in the absence of force exerted by the piston (16) on the transverse stop (17) of the cannula (7).

8. A filling device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cannula (7) has an end opposite (24) to its free end (10), said opposite end having a seal (25) which isolates the liquid conduit (8) and the air conduit (9) from the reservoir (2) of the container (1) when the cannula (7) is in the lower position.

9. Filling device according to claim 8, wherein the seal (25) is a cap made of elastomeric material attached or overmolded onto the opposite end (24) of the cannula (7).

10. Filling device according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the seal (25) is configured to bear in the longitudinal direction on the main body (13) when the cannula (7) is in the lower position.

11. Filling device according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the first transverse opening (11) and the second transverse opening (12) open within 8 mm of the opposite end (24) of the cannula (7).

12. Filling device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transfer head (3) further comprises a nozzle (20) movable in longitudinal translation in the main body (13).

13. Filling device according to claim 12, wherein the piston (16) has a seat (22) which is in contact with an inner surface of the nozzle (20) when the piston (16) is in the distal position of the container (1).

14. Filling device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transfer head (3) further comprises a sleeve (14) which surrounds the main body (13) and which rests on a shoulder of the container (1) located around its neck (4).

15. Assembly comprising a filling device according to any one of the preceding claims and a bottle (23), in which when the filling head (3) is pressed longitudinally on the neck of the bottle (23), the free end (10) of the cannula (7) is positioned in the bottle (23) longitudinally at a desired filling level.

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