Refillable dispense canister having a refill valve, a release valve and a bag for containing an active substance

Abstract

In a refillable dispense can (104) for releasing an active substance, the dispense can (104) has a deformable bag (160) for containing the active substance, a refill valve (162) coupled to the bag (160) for connecting to a refill station (100) for refilling the bag (160) with the active substance, and a release valve (164) coupled to the bag (160) for releasing the active substance from the bag (160) in a user defined manner.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dispense can, a refilling mechanism, and a method of operating a refilling station.

[0002] Dispense cans are known that can be automatically refilled by a refilling station. One such known refilling station is the REFILLO® mat-Station of the applicant Wurth. This safe and economical system relies on the automatic refilling of an empty dispense can with active substance and compressed air. This makes it possible to fill the dispense can with active substance from a larger container (e.g. a canister or drum). For this purpose, a dispense can for the individual active substance is pressed against the corresponding refilling station. The dispense can is then filled with active substance and compressed air in a defined ratio. In order to prevent any mix-up of the dispense can with the corresponding active substance, the can receptacles are mechanically coded, so that only the correct dispense can can be mechanically attached to the correct can receptacle. Only mechanically compatible dispense cans can be used in the corresponding refilling station. In this way, any possible mix-up of active substance and dispense can, which may be dangerous in certain circumstances, is mechanically prevented. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing can for active ingredients which is easy to handle, resource-conserving and operationally safe.

[0004] This problem is solved by the subject matter which has the features of the independent claims. Further embodiments are given in the dependent claims. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In one embodiment of the invention, a refillable dispense canister for releasing an active substance is provided, the dispense canister having a deformable bag for containing the active substance, a refill valve associated with the bag for connecting to a refilling station for refilling the bag with the active substance, and a release valve associated with the bag for releasing (particularly spraying) the active substance from the bag in a user defined manner.

[0006] In another embodiment of the present invention, a refilling mechanism is provided that includes a refilling station having a receiving device for receiving a dispense can to be refilled with an active substance and a control device for controlling the refilling of the dispense can with the active substance, and a dispense can having the above-described components attachable or attached to the receiving device.

[0007] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of operating a refilling station is provided, the method comprising receiving a refill valve of a dispense canister to be refilled with an active substance in a receiving device of the refilling station, the refilling of the dispense canister with the active substance having the components described above, and controlling the refilling of the dispense canister with the active substance by a control device of the refilling station.

[0008] Within the scope of the present application, a "refilling station" can be understood to be an apparatus configured, in particular, for refilling an at least partially empty dispense can, which can be mechanically and fluidically linked to the refilling station, with an active substance from an active substance container to be connected. The refilling station can thus provide a fluid connection between a container for providing the active substance to be refilled and the dispense can to be refilled, and can optionally be configured for providing the dispense can with compressed gas to be refilled.

[0009] Within the context of the present application, a "receiving device" may be understood to mean, in particular, a mechanical and fluidic adapter that is configured for receiving, in particular in a form-fitting manner, a dispense can to be refilled and that is capable of providing an active substance and / or compressed gas to the dispense can in the received state. Beyond the mechanical adapter function, the receiving device may also function as a fluidic adapter for providing a fluid connection between a container containing the active substance and a dispense can to be refilled with the active substance.

[0010] Within the context of the present application, a "dispense can" (for example configured as a spray can) is understood to mean a can that can be handled in particular by the user and is configured for dispensing a preferably liquid active substance (in particular for spraying a spray mist or for dispensing an active substance in the form of an active substance jet, foam or gel). Such an active substance is under pressure inside the dispense can, and a pressurized or propellant gas (for example propane, butane, compressed air, carbon dioxide, helium or nitrogen) in the dispense can can be used for dispensing the active substance from the dispense can. By means of a nozzle, one or more contents (in particular active substance or active substance-propellant gas mixture) can be sprayed, atomized and / or otherwise dispensed from the spray can. A medium present in the spray can can be sprayed from the spray can, in particular as an aerosol.

[0011] Within the context of the present application, an "agent" can be understood in particular as a medium that, when ejected from the dispense can, provides the intended function of the dispense can. Such agents can comprise liquids, gels, viscous media and / or gases, and optionally solid particles. For example, such agents can be cleaning agents (e.g. brake cleaners), rust removers, maintenance oils, silicone sprays, window cleaners, leak tester media, welding sprays, etc. At the refilling station, such agents can be refilled from a container (e.g. a canister) into the dispense can to be refilled.

[0012] Within the framework of the present application, a "control device" may in particular be understood as a device which controls the process of refilling the dispense can with an active substance, permits it in a particularly defined manner or prevents it in the event of an error. In particular, such a control device may have at least one processor and / or a part of a processor which evaluates information provided regarding the intended and / or performed refilling process and which possibly executes, adapts, restricts, expands or makes the refilling process impossible. In particular, the control device controls or controls the individual components of the refilling station for this purpose.

[0013] Within the scope of the present invention, a "deformable bag" is understood to mean, in particular, a closed bag-type case made of a material that unfolds and / or expands under an increase in pressure and folds and / or contracts under a decrease in pressure. For example, when an active substance is filled or refilled into the deformable bag, the bag contains the active substance and expands or unfolds due to the pressure provided by the active substance. Conversely, when the active substance is dispensed from the bag, the bag can shrink or fold, for example when compressed gas that is outside the bag but inside the dispense can acts on the bag from the outside and thus the bag shrinks, collapses or folds. For example, the bag can be a foil bag having at least one foil, for example a metal foil and / or a plastic foil.

[0014] Within the scope of the present invention, a "refill valve" can be understood to mean, in particular, a fluid valve through which an active substance, in particular a fluid, can be delivered from the outside of the dispense can to the inside of the bag. In particular, the dispense can can be mounted, preferably in a form-fitting manner and forming a fluid connection, on a receiving device of a refilling station by means of its refill valve, in order that the active substance can then be filled or refilled from the active substance container by the refilling station through the refill valve into the dispense can. The refill valve is preferably a normally closed fluid valve that only opens under the action of an overpressure above a predetermined threshold value.

[0015] Within the scope of the present invention, a "release valve" can be understood to mean, in particular, a fluid valve that is configured to deliver, in particular, a liquid active substance from the interior of the bag to the exterior of the dispense can. In particular, the dispense can can be linked by its release valve with a release device (e.g., a spray nozzle) while forming a fluid connection, in order to subsequently expel the active substance from the bag of the dispense can into the surroundings of the dispense can. The release valve is preferably a normally closed fluid valve that only opens under the action of an operating pressure (or the like) exceeding a predetermined threshold value, which can be exerted by the user by means of the release device.

[0016] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a refillable dispense can is provided that only needs to be filled once with a pressure medium (e.g. compressed gas) and can be loaded with the pressure of the compressed medium for releasing the refillable agent from the dispense can any number of times without refilling the compressed medium thereafter. For this purpose, the agent can be loaded any number of times into a deformable bag of the dispense can, which is fluidly linked to the refill valve. When refilled with the agent, the bag can be stretched. The compressed gas in the dispense can around the bag can load the agent in the bag with a constant overpressure. When the user expels the agent from the bag to the surroundings of the dispense can by operating the release valve of the dispense can, the compressed medium, which is at an overpressure compared to the ambient pressure, expels the agent from the bag through the release valve. Refilling the agent by the refill valve causes the bag, which was at least partially emptied, to expand again, so that the same compressed medium previously loaded into the dispense can can pressure-load the refilled agent for release. The compressed medium thus remains permanently in the dispense can and does not need to be refilled. The deformable bag serves as a pressure medium between the pressure medium and the active substance to be dispensed. A fluid valve (refill valve or release valve) on the refill side and on the discharge side, respectively, can preferably trigger a refill and a release of the active substance that are spatially separated from one another. In this way, a repeatable refill of the dispense can with the active substance is possible, without the pressure medium also having to be refilled when refilling the active substance. This significantly simplifies the refilling of the dispense can compared to conventional approaches. In the dispense can according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the compressed gas as a propellant on the one hand and the active substance on the other hand are spatially separated from one another in the dispense can. The active substance is in a separate flexible bag that is connected or can be connected to both the release valve and the refill valve, whereas the compressed gas that is compressed can be in the remaining space between the bag and the modified can wall. The separation between the pressure medium and the active substance also increases the operational safety of the dispense can.Thus, when the dispensing head (e.g., injection head) of the dispense can is operated, the active substance is dispensed through the release valve, but not together with the compressed gas, which may remain permanently in the dispense can as the working medium for pressure generation. By providing a refill valve in addition to the release valve, the dispense can can be used multiple times by refilling the previously emptied active substance, whereby the same compressed gas can be reused for each refilling process. Thus, the dispense can according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is particularly sustainable, resource-conserving and at the same time easy to handle.

[0017] Additional illustrative embodiments of the dispense canister, refill mechanism, and method are described below.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the refill valve may be located on the underside of the dispense canister. In this way, the refill valve can be bottom-mounted in a simple manner to the refill station's receiving device, whereby the refill piping of the refill station can be fluidly linked to the refill valve of the dispense canister. The agent can be supplied to the receiving device, so that the bag of the dispense canister can be refilled with the agent via the refill valve.

[0019] In an exemplary embodiment, the release valve may be located on the top surface of the dispense canister. By locating the refill valve and the release valve on opposing sides of the dispense canister, it is intuitive to the user that refilling of the agent occurs on the bottom surface and release of the agent occurs on the top surface of the dispense canister. However, handling of the dispense canister differs from conventional refillable dispense canisters by not requiring refilling of compressed gas.

[0020] In an exemplary embodiment, the refill valve and / or the release valve may be attached (in particular welded or glued) to the bag in a fluid-tight manner. In this way, undesired leakage of active substances from the interior of the bag into the compressed gas volume or undesired leakage of compressed gas into the bag can be avoided. One particularly simple configuration that makes this possible is for the bag to be welded to the refill valve and the release valve. Alternatively, it is also possible to glue the respective valves gas-tightly to the bag.

[0021] In an exemplary embodiment, the dispense canister can have a rigid canister housing that surrounds or contains the bag, to which the refill valve and the release valve are exposed. Unlike the bag, the canister housing can be rigid and incompressible. The canister housing can then form a robust outer housing for the dispense canister. Furthermore, the canister housing can form a rigid, pressure-limiting case for the pressure medium inside the dispense canister. It is apparent that the pressure medium can pressure-load and thereby deform the deformable bag inside the canister housing, whereas the pressure medium is rigidly bounded on the outside by the rigid canister housing.

[0022] In an exemplary embodiment, the dispensing canister can contain a pressure medium, in particular a compressed gas, in the volume between the bag and the canister housing. The pressure medium can be a gas, in particular a pressure above atmospheric pressure, in particular a pressure above 2 bar. The compressed gas can be, for example, overpressurized air or nitrogen or propane and / or butane. The pressure medium is preferably filled under overpressure in the factory only once in the volume between the canister housing and the bag, and thereafter serves to apply a pre-pressure to the agent in the bag again and again without having to be refilled, even when the process of refilling the agent into the bag is repeated.

[0023] In an exemplary embodiment, it is made impossible for the pressure medium to leak through the refill valve and / or the release valve, i.e. the compressed gas volume between the canister housing and the bag may be hermetically separated from the interior of the bag and from the exterior of the dispense canister, in this way the pressure medium can be utilized again and again for the release of the refilled active substance without the need to refill it.

[0024] In an exemplary embodiment, the release valve may be configured for filling the pressure medium between the bag and the canister housing. For example, the release valve (e.g., in combination with a distribution tube that is temporarily lifted and thereby opened below for filling with compressed gas) can be used to factory-side fill the compressed gas volume between a flexible, elastic, or collapsible, deformable bag on the one hand and a rigid or non-deformable canister housing on the other hand with pressure medium or compressed gas. After the compressed gas volume is filled with compressed gas through the release valve (and, for example, through a lower opening of the distribution tube), the compressed gas volume inside the dispense canister can be fluidly isolated from the rest of the dispense canister (e.g., the distribution tube can be lowered and thereby fluidly decoupled from the pressurized gas volume below, and the lower section of the distribution tube can be fluidly linked to a refill valve, for example, for filling with an active substance).

[0025] Alternatively, the compressed gas volume may be filled with compressed gas through a separate valve in the canister housing, which may be closed, for example permanently, after the compressed gas volume is filled with compressed gas.

[0026] In an exemplary embodiment, the active substance in the bag and the pressure medium between the bag and the canister housing can be pressure-coupled to each other by the bag without direct contact between the active substance and the pressure medium being formed. The pressure medium under overpressure can exert a pre-pressure on the active substance through the wall of the deformable bag. When the release valve is then operated (e.g. by the user operating the discharge head) for the release of the active substance, the release valve opens, so that the active substance under pre-pressure by the pressure medium passes through the release valve and the discharge head to the surroundings of the dispense canister. In this way, the deformable bag creates a pressure coupling between the pressure medium surrounding the bag and the active substance in the bag, without allowing direct physical contact between the pressure medium and the active substance. The pressure medium is thereby protected from leaking out of the dispense canister, unlike the active substance, and after the dispense canister has been refilled with new active substance through the refill valve, a pre-pressure can be generated again for the new active substance for subsequent release from the dispense canister. Media separation between the pressure medium and the active substance inside the dispense can makes it possible to avoid undesirable chemical interactions between both these media.

[0027] In one embodiment, the volume between the bag and the canister housing may be hermetically closed, thus preventing the compressed pressure medium from escaping from the interior of the dispense canister.

[0028] In one embodiment, the can housing may be curved at its underside, in particular concavely curved. The refill valve may be protected against mechanical influences and may nevertheless be accessible at an indentation in the curved underside of the can housing for easy linking to a receiving device of a refilling station. Furthermore, the curvature of the underside may improve the stability of the dispense can on the floor and its mechanical strength.

[0029] In one embodiment, the bag may be elastically deformable and / or expandable. An elastically deformable bag can be reversibly compressed under an external pressure load or an internal pressure drop, and can be reversibly expanded under an external pressure drop or an internal pressure load. An elastically deformable bag can thus reliably effect a pressure mediation between the bag interior and the bag exterior. Alternatively or additionally, the bag can be configured to be reversibly expandable or collapsible (for example using a metal foil). The bag can be unfolded as a response to the filling of the active substance into the bag. After the active substance has been emptied from the bag, the bag foil automatically folds or contracts, triggered by a pressure load by a pressure medium around the bag.

[0030] In an exemplary embodiment, the dispense can has a discharge device, in particular a discharge head, on the discharge valve. Depending on the embodiment of the discharge device, the agent exiting the discharge head can be discharged in various configurations. For example, the agent can be discharged as a liquid jet, as a strip of gel, as a spray mist, or as a foam. That is, the discharge device can be configured in a manner relevant to the application, for example as a spray head.

[0031] In an exemplary embodiment, the dispense can has a distribution tube (which may also be called a riser tube) at least locally within the bag, which is arranged at least locally between the refill valve and the release valve and has at least one sidewall opening (preferably multiple sidewall openings) for the formation of at least one penetration (preferably multiple penetrations) for the active substance between the interior of the distribution tube and the receiving volume of the bag. In particular, the distribution tube can extend over the entire vertical area between the release valve and the refill valve. The distribution tube may be surrounded by the bag along at least a part of its vertical extension (in particular over its entire vertical extension), and thus may be a pressure-stable perforated tube having a fluid connection with both the release valve and the refill valve, which may allow a bidirectional transfer of the active substance between the interior of the bag and the interior of the distribution tube. A rigid distribution tube has the advantage that it can provide stability to the dispense can even when the deformable bag expands or contracts when the active substance is filled or discharged. The distribution tube has the advantage that, due to the passages for the active substance, it serves for a more even distribution of the active substance in the vertical direction between the bag and the distribution tube.

[0032] In exemplary embodiments, the distribution pipe may have a plurality of side wall openings arranged offset from one another in the axial and / or radial direction. Distribution pipe penetrations arranged in a circumferentially distributed manner allow a more even distribution of the active substance transport in the horizontal plane. Axially spaced distribution pipe penetrations equalize the active substance transport in the vertical direction.

[0033] In an exemplary embodiment, the distribution tube can have a telescopic mechanism for allowing a length correction of the distribution tube. The telescopic tube or telescopic hose can be configured as a hollow cylindrical object that allows for the insertion of individual parts (e.g. of decreasing diameter) into one another. The effective length of the distribution tube can thereby be flexibly adapted to the needs of the current operating mode of the dispense can, in particular to the degree of filling of the bag with the active substance. Such a telescopic mechanism can follow the bag contraction when the bag contracts and can follow the bag expansion when the bag expands. This means that, regardless of the rigidity of the distribution tube, its longitudinal extension can be adapted depending on the degree of filling of the bag due to its telescopic configuration, and thus mechanical stresses inside the dispense can can be avoided. In particular, the refilling valve of the dispense can can be coupled to a telescopic tube or telescopic hose (e.g. configured as a slidable sleeve), which ensures that the refilled active substance can reach far enough upwards in the container and that the bag can be evenly expanded with small forces even when in a folded state.

[0034] In an exemplary embodiment, the distribution tube is preferably loosely fitted over the refill valve (or alternatively may be fixedly connected thereto). It is preferred that the distribution tube is loosely fitted over the refill valve. This can simplify filling with pressure medium at the factory, which can occur in cooperation with a temporarily exposed opening at the bottom of the distribution tube through the release valve. Furthermore, simply fitting the bottom of the distribution tube over the refill valve simplifies assembly of the dispense canister.

[0035] In an exemplary embodiment, the dispensing tube may be preferably fixedly coupled over (or alternatively loosely fitted over) the discharge valve. Fixedly coupling the dispensing tube to the discharge valve at its top surface facilitates a fluid-tight coupling between the dispensing tube and the discharge valve without posing challenges during assembly of the dispense canister. The dispensing tube (preferably including the bag) may be inserted into the receiving space of the canister housing while being fixedly coupled to the discharge valve during manufacture or assembly of the dispense canister.

[0036] In an exemplary embodiment, the refilling mechanism can have an agent container that contains the agent and is linked or linkable with the receiving device to provide the agent for refilling the dispense can. Such an agent container can be, for example, a canister or drum, having a storage volume of, for example, in the range of 5 L to 100 L, particularly in the range of 5 L to 80 L of agent.

[0037] In an exemplary embodiment, the refilling of the active ingredient allows a pressure medium, in particular a compressed gas, to be applied to the volume between the bag and the rigid tube housing of the dispense canister. If the pressure medium is hermetically sealed in the volume between the bag and the canister housing, a discharge pressure can be applied to the refilled active ingredient in the bag any number of times, and the dispense canister does not have to be refilled as such when the bag is refilled with active ingredient.

[0038] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the following drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0039] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a refilling mechanism having a refilling station, an active substance container, and a dispensing canister according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart illustrating a method of operating a refilling station in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 illustrates a system having multiple refill mechanisms communicatively linked with a reordering device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 illustrates material flow in a refilling mechanism having a refilling station, an active substance container, and a dispensing canister according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 illustrates a receiving device of a refilling station according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom view of a dispense canister of a refill mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 illustrates a back view of a refill station according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 illustrates a mechanism for refilling a dispense can with a refill mechanism, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a refillable dispensing canister having separate containment volumes for active substance and pressure medium according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 shows a refilling mechanism having a refilling station, an active substance container and a refillable dispensing canister having separate storage volumes for active substance and pressure medium according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 shows different views during a method of manufacturing a refillable dispensing can having separate containment volumes for an active substance and a pressure medium according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 shows different views during a method of manufacturing a refillable dispensing can having separate containment volumes for an active substance and a pressure medium according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 shows different views during a method of manufacturing a refillable dispensing can having separate containment volumes for an active substance and a pressure medium according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] The same or similar components in different drawings are labeled with the same reference numbers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0041] Before describing exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings, some general aspects of embodiments of the invention will be further explained.

[0042] In various embodiments of the invention, a refilling station is provided for filling or refilling a dispense can with an active substance from a container (e.g., a 20 L canister or a 60 L drum). The dispense can can, for example, be an aerosol can with a filling valve on its underside. Furthermore, the underside of the dispense can can be configured with a mechanical coding that corresponds to the corresponding shape of the receiving device of the refilling station. In addition, the dispense can can have an injection valve on its upper side for expelling the active substance or medium from the dispense can.

[0043] The filling station can have a fluid connection with a container, from which the active substance is filled into the dispense can to be refilled. For example, such a fluid connection can be formed by a hose in order to supply the active substance or medium from the container of the refilling station to the dispense can. Such a hose is preferably ESD-attenuated (ESD=electrostatic discharge). In particular, the refilling station can have a receiving device or a mounting device for dispense cans with mechanical coding, so that only mechanically compatible coded dispense cans can be placed in the corresponding refilling station. Furthermore, the receiving device can be provided with a stop for holding the dispense can in the receiving device during its filling. The dispense can can preferably be configured to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis so that it can be positioned independently of its angular position relative to the receiving device, i.e. obviously freely 360° on the coding plate, without the correct connection between the dispense can and the receiving device being impaired. Optionally, the refilling station may be equipped with a compressed air connection in order to fill the dispense can with compressed air together with the active substance (compressed air is available, for example, in any car factory). The filling process can be controlled by a control device. For example, when filling the dispense can, the active substance can be delivered first, followed by the compressed medium (e.g. compressed air). Both can be controlled pneumatically, for example, by a three-way valve. For this purpose, the refilling station may be equipped with a piston with a cylinder (e.g. a stainless steel cylinder or a plastic cylinder) in order to receive the active substance and fill the dispense can with a defined amount of active substance.

[0044] The refilling station can preferably be connected to an electrical potential compensation, since friction of the active substance during refilling can lead to electrostatic charging. For example, the refilling station can be assembled on a shelf, on which at least one container (e.g. a canister with a capacity of, for example, 20 l) can be arranged. It is also possible to configure the refilling station with a rest on an active substance drum (with a capacity of, for example, 60 l) or as a load-bearing adapter in a dangerous goods cabinet. Appropriate potential compensation can be realized by earthing.

[0045] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a refillable dispense can is provided which has a deformable bag for refilling the active substance and a hermetically closed volume in which the pressure medium is permanently accommodated between the rigid can housing and the bag. The bag can preferably be equipped, on the one hand, with a release valve for releasing the active substance from the bag with the aid of the pressure medium as the dispensing working agent, and, on the other hand, with a refill valve for refilling the active substance into the bag. Such a dispense can can preferably be filled with fresh active substance through the refill valve many times over a long service life without the need to refill the pressure medium permanently present in the pressure can. The release of the active substance from the dispense can is made comfortable for the user by simply operating the release valve. A permanent separation of the compressed gas and the active substance is particularly preferred from the standpoint of safety, whereby a dispense can is provided which can be manufactured and operated sustainably and resource-conservingly, while at the same time ensuring high user comfort and high operational safety.

[0046] For example, a dispense can according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention may be configured as an aerosol can with compressed air and a bag containing an active substance. The bag may have a release valve for the active substance on its upper side and a fill or refill valve for filling or refilling the active substance on its lower side. In particular, a tube, preferably a slidable sleeve or the like, may be attached to the refill valve on the lower side, so that the medium introduced through the refill valve can be directed to the vicinity of the release valve. In this case, multiple filling of BoV-type dispense cans (for example at logistics offices, service stations, factories, etc.) is preferred. It is particularly preferred to provide a BoV dispense can with two separate valves for discharging or filling the bag. It is also preferred to provide a telescopic hose or telescopic tube inside the bag, since this promotes a spatially uniform distribution of the active substance during filling or discharging and the associated friction-free operation of the dispense can.

[0047] 1 shows a refilling station 100, a refilling mechanism 116 having an agent container 114 and a dispense can 104 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The refilling mechanism 116 serves to fill or refill a fully or partially empty or emptied dispense can 104 with an agent (e.g., brake cleaner) and to allow the dispense can 104 to be filled by a user in a simple manner with the assigned agent. The agent can then be sprayed at the point of use or, more generally, dispensed from the dispense can 104. After the dispense can 104 has been emptied or emptied again, the refilling mechanism 116 can fill the dispense can 104 again with new agent, and so on.

[0048] For this purpose, the refilling station 100 has a receiving device 102 that serves as a dispense can adapter for receiving a dispense can 104 to be refilled with an active substance in a form-fitting and fluid-linked manner. The receiving device 102 may be configured as a coding plate with a mechanical interface that is form-fitted to a corresponding mechanical interface of the dispense can 104 to be refilled. In this way, only mechanically compatible dispense cans 104 can be attached to the receiving device 102, which makes it almost impossible for errors to occur. Although not shown in FIG. 1, a locking device may be attached to the receiving device 102, by means of which the dispense can 104 attached to the receiving device 102 can be locked in the receiving device 102 during filling. In this way, pressure or forces exerted on the dispense can 104 during refilling that lead to the dispense can 104 being unintentionally removed from the receiving device 102 can be excluded. After refilling is complete, the locking device may automatically release from the dispense canister 104 or may be actuated by the user to transition the dispense canister 104 to an open state, where the user may then remove the refilled dispense canister 104 from the receiving device 102 and take it to a location for use.

[0049] Further, the refill mechanism 116 can include an agent container 114 that can be filled with the agent (e.g., brake cleaner) to be refilled, for example, as a canister or drum. As such, the agent container 114 contains the agent to be filled into the dispense can 104 and can be fluidly linked or linkable with the receiving device 102 to provide the agent for refilling the dispense can 104.

[0050] If the dispense canister 104 is not a Bag-on-Valve (BoV) dispense canister that is permanently contained in a compressed medium—unlike that of FIG. 1, see description below—the refill mechanism 116 may further include a gas reservoir 124 that is fluidly linked or linkable to the receiving device 102 and configured to provide compressed gas. In this manner, the gas reservoir 124 may provide compressed gas (e.g., compressed air) for filling the dispense canister 104. For example, the gas reservoir 124 may be a connection to compressed gas piping or may be a compressed gas cylinder that contains gas under negative pressure.

[0051] As clearly shown in Fig. 1, at least one valve 111, configured in the illustrated embodiment as a three-way valve, can form a fluid connection between the active substance container 114, the optional compressed gas reservoir 124, and the receiving device 102. As shown, the receiving device 102 can be fluidly linked to an active substance supply device 120 for supplying the active substance from the active substance container 114 to the dispense can 104 received in the receiving device 102. The receiving device 102 can further be fluidly linked to an optional compressed gas supply device 122 for supplying compressed gas from the gas reservoir 124 to the dispense can 104 received in the receiving device 102. For example, the at least one valve 111 can be controlled by the control device 110 such that first only the active substance is filled into the at least partially emptied dispense can 104, and then the at least one valve 111 can be switched so that only compressed gas is filled into the dispense can 104 from the gas reservoir 124. Thereby, it can be ensured that a predefined amount of the active substance is filled into the dispense can 104. Between the active substance container 114 and the receiving device 102, a delivery device 113, e.g. a pump, may be arranged to deliver the active substance from the active substance container 114 to the receiving device 102 and from there into the dispense can 104. Optionally, between the gas reservoir 124 and the receiving device 102, a delivery device 115, e.g. a compressor or a pump, may also be arranged.

[0052] 1 illustrates, by means of an arrow, how the dispense can 104 is loaded into the receiving device 102. In a bottom area of ​​the dispense can 104, in the region of its refill valve 162, the dispense can 104 is equipped with a dispense can transponder 108, e.g., an RFID tag, where the dispense can 104 is received by the receiving device 102. Such a contactlessly communicable dispense can transponder 108 may, for example, be affixed to the dispense can 104 as a label, or may be attached or embedded on and / or within the can housing 166. Dispense can related data is stored on a solid state drive of the dispense can transponder 108, which may, for example, identify or characterize the dispense can 104 and the agent to be filled therein, and / or may include information regarding the volumetric capacity of the dispense can 104, information regarding the desired compressed gas properties in the dispense can 104, information regarding the user of the dispense can 104, etc.

[0053] A transponder reading device 106 is arranged in the receiving device 102 for contactlessly reading dispense can related data of a dispense can transponder 108 attached to the dispense can 104. The transponder reading device 106 is arranged in an area of ​​the receiving device 102 such that the dispense can 104 is within the reading field of the transponder reading device 106 only when the dispense can 104 is attached to the receiving device 102. This has the advantage that it is ensured that an erroneous reading process by the transponder reading device 106 of a dispense can 104 located in a peripheral area further away from the transponder reading device 106 is reliably prevented. For this purpose, the transponder technology on the basis of which the transponder reading device 106 and the dispense can transponder 108 communicate may be configured as a short-range transponder technology (e.g., as a short-range RFID technology) having a range of, for example, 10 cm or less, in particular 5 cm or less. Accordingly, dispense can related data from dispense can transponder 108 can be selectively read by transponder reading instrument 106 only when dispense can 104 is attached to receiving device 102. The read data can be provided from transponder reading instrument 106 to control device 110 or can be stored in electronic mass memory (not shown) of refill station 100.

[0054] The active substance container 114 may also be provided with an active substance container transponder 112 (not shown) or is preferably associated therewith. In a solid-state memory of the active substance container transponder 112, active substance container-related data is stored that is selectively readable by the transponder reading device 106 when the active substance container transponder 112 is attached - as shown - to the housing 130 of the refilling station 100. To enable or facilitate readability of the active substance container transponder 112 by the transponder reading device 106, the active substance container transponder 112 may be configured as a label 132 that is separable from the active substance container 114 in a defined manner. For example, the label 132 may be configured as an adhesive label equipped with the active substance container transponder 112, which the user can separate from the active substance container 114, which is configured, for example, as a canister, and apply to the housing 130 at a location (e.g. correspondingly identified) intended for this purpose. Such attachment or pasting, or alternatively presentation, can bring the active substance container transponder 112 within reading distance of the transponder reading device 106, so that the active substance container-related data can be read by the transponder reading device 106. Reliable protection against erroneous reading of the active substance container-related data is provided, in that the active substance container transponder 112 can only be detected by the transponder reading device 106 after a defined user action has brought the active substance container-related data into reading distance of the transponder reading device 106. For example, the active substance container-related data can include information about the active substance in the active substance container 114, about the fill amount or remaining fill amount in the active substance container 114, about a suitable dispense can 104 or refilling station 100 for the active substance, etc.

[0055] The control device 110 can evaluate the dispense can-related data and the active substance container-related data provided to it by the transponder reading instrument 106, for example to check their compatibility. In particular, the control device 110 can determine from the data read out by the transponder reading instrument 106 whether the active substance provided by the active substance container 114 is compatible with the dispense can 104 received in the receiving device 102. In this way, operational safety can be increased, since it can be prevented that a dispense can 104 that is not suitable for a dangerous active substance (e.g. containing benzine and therefore a fire hazard) is used. In a similar manner, it can also be prevented that active substances originating from impermissible sources are allowed for refilling the dispense can 104. Even if a user tampers with the shape of the dispense can 104 and attempts to assemble it to the receiving device 102, regardless of the incompatibility of the agent container 114 fluidly linked thereto, this can be recognized by the control device 110 by reading out the dispense can transponder 108. Thus, the filling of a dispense can 104 that is not suitable for a particular agent can be reliably prevented by the above-mentioned transponder configuration. A high operational safety can thereby be achieved when using the refilling mechanism 116. If the dispense can-related data and the agent container-related data show a match, the refilling process is released or allowed by the control device 110, otherwise the refilling process is prevented and not allowed.

[0056] 1 further shows that a user terminal 134 having a software app for user control of the refilling mechanism 116 using the control device 110 is communicatively linked. The user terminal 134 may for example be a mobile radio that may be communicatively linked wirelessly to a communication interface 119 of the refilling station 100 via a communication network 117 (e.g. a mobile radio network or the public internet). In this way, a user may remotely transmit control commands to the refilling mechanism 116 or monitor the operation of the refilling mechanism 116.

[0057] 1, refill station 100 includes a display device 118 for displaying information, such as, for example, dispense can related data, agent container related data, and / or information about the user. For example, display device 118 may be configured as an LCD display or a touch screen. Ancillary information may be displayed to the user by display device 118 before, during, and / or after the refill process.

[0058] The refilling station 100 shown in FIG. 1 can preferably have a scale 126, for example configured as a balance, for detecting the weight of the dispense can 104 at the receiving device 102 before and / or during the refilling process or weight information indicative thereof. Weight detection of the dispense can 104 before the refilling process allows a qualitative or quantitative determination of the remaining fill of the dispense can 104 with any active substance and / or compressed gas present and a corresponding adaptation or execution of the refilling process to be subsequently performed. The remaining fill of the dispense can 104 that may be present is taken into account before refilling, thereby avoiding overfilling of the dispense can 104. It is also possible to monitor the weight increase of the dispense can 104 to be refilled during the refilling process to avoid any overfilling or underfilling that may occur. The control device 110, which can be provided with the results of the weight detection by the scale 126, can thus be configured to control the refilling of the dispense can 104 with the active substance based on the detected weight.

[0059] The scale 126 may preferably be configured to detect total weight information before and / or during the refilling process, which is indicative of the total weight of the dispense can 104, the remaining fill of active substance in the dispense can 104 and part of the refilling station 100 (in particular at least one part of the receiving device 102). The control device 110 may then control the refilling of the dispense can 104 with active substance on the basis of the detected total weight information. This has the advantage that it may not be necessary to detect exactly the weight of the dispense can 104 alone. It is also possible to simply detect the aforementioned total weight, which is significantly simpler in terms of measurement technology, since it is then not necessary to separate the dispense can 104 and the receiving device 102 during the weight determination process. The empty weight of the receiving device 102 without the dispense can 104 is detected before the dispense can 104 is attached to the receiving device 102, so that when the total weight is determined by the scale 126 after the dispense can 104 is attached to the receiving device 102, the remaining weight of the total weight, which is distinct from the dispense can weight, can be subtracted in a calculation.

[0060] As already explained, after the dispense can 104 to be refilled is attached to the receiving device 102, the control device 110 can allow the dispense can 104 to be refilled with an active substance only if the data determined by the transponders 108, 112 indicates compatibility between the dispense can 104 attached to the receiving device 102 for refilling and the active substance provided from the connected active substance container 114.

[0061] Alternatively or supplementarily, acceptability of refilling the dispense can 104 with an agent may depend on whether the agent detected by the detection device 138 satisfies pre-determined acceptability criteria. The acceptability criteria may apply whether the agent being delivered by the supply device 120 is an agent that is acceptable for the dispense can 104 and / or whether the agent detected by the supply device 120 satisfies an agent origin that is considered acceptable for the dispense can 104.

[0062] 1, the detection device 138 of the agent supply device 120 for supplying an agent from the agent container 114 can perform measurements that serve to characterize and / or identify the agent passing through the supply device 120, e.g. configured as a hose, during refilling of the dispense can 104. In this way, an agent that is about to be used to refill the dispense can 104 contrary to one or more predetermined acceptability criteria can be recognized.

[0063] For example, agents that are acceptable for refilling dispense cans 104 can be provided at the factory with an optically recognizable marker, such as, for example, a fluorescent marker or a DNA marker. In this way, agents that are acceptable for refilling a particular dispense can 104 and / or that meet required quality standards can be identified. When such agents are being delivered through supply device 120, detection device 138 can detect, preferably optically, whether the agents meet predetermined acceptability standards during delivery. For example, acceptability of filling dispense cans 104 with the agents can be determined depending on whether an expected fluorescent signal can be optically detected by detection device 138.

[0064] Data indicative of the predetermined acceptability criteria detected by the detection device 138 can be provided to the control device 110. The control device 110 can then accept or reject refilling of the dispense can 104 with an agent depending on whether the agent detected by the detection device 138 satisfies the predetermined acceptability criteria. For example, an agent can be accepted for refilling of the dispense can 104 only if it contains a corresponding expected fluorescent marker, e.g., indicative of a particular agent and / or indicating the attribution of the agent to an acceptable source (e.g., a particular manufacturer). In this way, checking the predetermined acceptability criteria ensures high quality of the agent and operational safety of the agent in combination with the dispense can 104.

[0065] In the illustrated embodiment, the detection device 138 is configured as an optical detection device for detecting a predetermined optical signal characteristic of the agent to be refilled. The presence of the aforementioned signal characteristic indicates that the agent fulfills the predetermined acceptability criteria. The detection device 138 can then advantageously detect the agent in the hose or in the supply device 120, preferably during flow through the supply device 120. Once the detection device 138 has determined the signal characteristic of the candidate agent for refilling the dispense can 104, the signal characteristic can be transmitted to the control device 110 for evaluation. The control device 110 can then determine, for example based on a comparison between the determined actual signal characteristic and the expected target signal characteristic, whether the signal characteristic indicates fulfillment of the predetermined acceptability criteria. Depending on the result of such an examination, the control device 110 can then take measures to allow or not allow the refilling of the dispense can 104 with the agent.

[0066] If the detected signal characteristics indicate that the agent does not meet the acceptability criteria, the control device 110 can activate a blocking device 140 to block refilling of the dispense canister 104 with the agent. For example, the blocking device 140 can crush the delivery device 120, which is configured as a flexible hose, so that the agent cannot pass through the supply line 120. Alternatively, the blocking device 140 can include a hardenable adhesive within the delivery device 120, which is configured as a fluid line, that chemically closes the supply line 120, disabling conduction of the agent through the supply line 120.

[0067] The dispense can 104 can have a mixture of active agent and compressed gas therein, and when the operating nozzle 121 is operated, the active agent-compressed gas-mixture is expelled or sprayed, for example as an aerosol, from the dispense can 104. In this case, to refill the dispense can 104, not only new active agent but also new compressed gas is required.

[0068] Alternatively, the dispense can 104 may be configured as a specially configured bag-on-valve dispense can, as shown in FIG. 1. The refillable dispense can 104 shown in FIG. 1 serves to release the agent and has a deformable bag 160 therein for containing the agent. The bag 160 may be made of, for example, plastic or metal foil. The bag 160 is fluid-tightly coupled at its underside to a refill valve 162. The refill valve 162 may be fluid-tightly mounted to the receiving device 102, thereby fluidly linked to the refill station 100 for filling or refilling the bag 160 with the agent from the agent container 114. Additionally, the bag 160 is coupled at its upper side to a release valve 164 for a user-defined release of the agent from the bag 160. The actuation nozzle 121 may be attached to a release valve 164 such that actuation of the actuation nozzle 121 opens the release valve 164, thereby dispensing the active substance from the bag 160 in the form of a spray.

[0069] 1 further includes a rigid canister housing 166 that contains the bag 160, with the refill valve 162 and the release valve 164 exposed at the bottom or top. In other words, the release valve 164 protrudes from the rigid canister housing 166 at the top side and the refill valve 162 at the bottom side. The canister housing 166 may be, for example, a rigid metal housing. The compressed gas may be fluid-tightly enclosed in an intermediate volume 168 between the bag 160 and the canister housing 166 and may be protected from leaking out of the dispense canister 104. In this way, it is impossible for the compressed gas to leak out through the refill valve 162 and / or the release valve 164. That is, when the agent is sprayed through the release valve 164, the agent is not mixed with the compressed gas, because the compressed gas remains in the intermediate volume 168, i.e., in the dispense canister 104. 1 also does not require refilling with compressed gas. Charging of intermediate volume 168 with compressed gas can be accomplished at the factory, for example, through one of valves 162, 164 and / or through the other valve on canister housing 166 (not shown).

[0070] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart 200 illustrating a method of operating the refill station 100 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0071] The method of operating the refill station 100 begins at block 202 which indicates that the refill station 100 is ready to perform the method, which may be indicated on the display device 118.

[0072] At block 204, a check is made to see if the weight of the dispense canister 104 to be refilled, as detected by the scale 126, is stable within a predetermined range.

[0073] If so, the dispense can transponder 108 is read by the transponder reading instrument 106 in block 206. Additionally, the active substance container transponder 112 may be read by the transponder reading instrument 106.

[0074] At block 208, it is determined whether the agent or medium to be filled into the dispense can 104 is acceptable. If not, the method presumes it is an incorrect dispense can 104. See block 210. This can be displayed on the display device 118.

[0075] If so, then the amount of agent remaining in the dispense canister 104 to be refilled is determined in block 212. The pump 113 can then be turned on to deliver agent to replenish the dispense canister 104 (block 214).

[0076] After refilling the dispense canister 104 with the fill substance, it may be determined (e.g., by scale 126) whether the amount of agent refilled into the dispense canister 104 is appropriate. See block 216. If this is not the case, the method repeats the steps of blocks 214 and 216.

[0077] If, on the other hand, this is the case, the method determines the active agent charge and sums the total charge at block 218. This may be displayed to the user on the display device 118 at block 220.

[0078] Then, at optional block 222 , the pump 115 or compressor may be turned on to fill the dispense canister 104 with compressed gas.

[0079] At block 224, a check is made to see if the pressure in the refilled dispense canister 104 is correct. If that is not the case, the procedures of blocks 222 and 224 are checked.

[0080] If, on the other hand, this is the case, the operating method is terminated, see block 226. Corresponding information can be displayed on the display device 118. An acoustic signal (e.g. generated by a buzzer) can indicate the end of the operating method.

[0081] In addition to the above-mentioned filling progression procedures, a pressure pulse can be used to detect whether the dispense can 104 is correctly seated on the receiving device 102 before filling. Furthermore, data can be transmitted to the communicatively linked node after filling. It is also possible to detect whether an active substance container 114 (e.g., a drum or canister) is empty. This is possible, for example, by monitoring the weight progression of such an active substance container 114 when the dispense can 104 is being filled.

[0082] FIG. 3 illustrates a system having multiple refill mechanisms 116 communicatively linked with a reorder device 123 according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

[0083] In the system of Figure 3, a number of refilling mechanisms 116 having the components described above are communicatively linked to a node 121 (e.g., a gateway), which is linked to a reordering device 123 via a communications network 117. When the control device 110 and / or scale 126 of the refilling mechanism 116 recognize that an active substance container 114 will soon be empty (e.g., because the remaining fill of the active substance container 114 containing the active substance is below a predetermined threshold), that information can be transmitted via the node 121 and communications network 117 to the reordering device 123, which releases a reorder for a new active substance container 114 containing the active substance.

[0084] 3, consumption data relating to the agents may be transmitted, for example, to a Kanban system. The transmitted data may include an identifier for each refill mechanism 116, an identifier for the dispense can 104, a date and time, and the agents and amounts of agents consumed and / or reordered. As shown, node 121 may act as a gateway common to multiple refill mechanisms 116. Software, and particularly firmware, may be installed in the refill mechanisms 116, node 121, and / or reorder device 123.

[0085] FIG. 4 illustrates material flow in a refilling mechanism 116 having a refilling station 100, an agent container 114, and a dispensing canister 104 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0086] The agent can be transferred from the agent container 114 through the supply device 120 of the refilling station 100 and from there to the dispense canister 104 that is assembled to the receiving device 102 after the cover 135 is flipped open. The compressed gas can be transferred from the compressed gas reservoir through the supply device 122 of the refilling station 100 and from there to the dispense canister 104 that is assembled to the receiving device 102. If the dispense canister 104 is a BoV dispense canister, refilling of the compressed gas is not necessary.

[0087] FIG. 5 shows a receiving device 102 of a refilling station 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0088] FIG. 6 shows the bottom view of a dispense canister 104 to be assembled into the receiving device 102 of FIG. 5 of a refill mechanism 116 according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

[0089] The receiving device 102 is formed with a coding plate 129 for receiving a bottom area 133 of the dispense can 104. The coding plate 129 is configured to be mechanically complementary to the bottom area 133 of the dispense can 104 (see FIG. 6). The coding plate 129 can be exposed by opening a flap or cover 135 shown in FIG. 4 in an upward direction. A fluid connection 137 is shown in a central area of ​​the coding plate 129, which can be fluidly linked with a refill valve 162 of the dispense can 104 for refilling the dispense can 104 with active substance and / or compressed gas through the refill valve 162.

[0090] After the dispense can 104 is assembled to the coding plate 129, a locking device for locking the dispense can 104 to the coding plate 129 can be operated to prevent unintentional removal of the dispense can 104 from the receiving device 102 during the refill process. After the refill process is completed, the dispense can 104 can be unlocked and removed from the receiving device 102.

[0091] 7 shows the underside of a refill station 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 7 shows the sections of the delivery devices 120, 122.

[0092] 8 illustrates a mechanism for refilling a dispense canister 104 with a refill mechanism 116 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The mechanism includes a piston and cylinder of a predetermined size, which allows for the appropriate pressure to define the fill amount to be dispensed.

[0093] FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a refillable dispense can 104 (here configured as a spray can) having separate storage volumes for an active substance (e.g. brake cleaner) and a pressure medium (e.g. air at an overpressure compared to ambient pressure) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0094] That is, the refillable dispense can 104 shown serves for dispensing a refillable, preferably liquid, active substance and for this purpose has a deformable bag 160 for containing the active substance. The bag 160 may be made, for example, of metal or plastic foil and can unfold when filled with the active substance and deform in the process. After the active substance has been emptied from the bag 160, it can for example shrink or be folded. The filling or emptying of the bag 160 can be controlled by the pressure situation inside the dispense can 104 and by the operation of the valves 162, 164, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0095] The dispense can 104 has at its underside a refill valve 162 coupled to the bag 160 for connection to the refill station 100 for refilling the bag 160 with the active substance. Such a refill station 100 may be configured, for example, as described in relation to Fig. 1 (but without the need for the gas reservoir 124) or Fig. 10. Specifically, to refill the bag 160 with the active substance, the underside of the dispense can 104 may be form-fitted into the receiving device 102 of the refill station 100, whereby the active substance is pumped from the active substance container 114 through the receiving device 102 and through the refill valve 162 into the bag 160.

[0096] Additionally, the dispense can 104 has a release valve 164 on its top surface coupled to the bag 160 for releasing the agent from the bag 160 in a user defined manner. If the dispense can 104 is configured as a spray can, a release device 170 configured as an ejection head above the release valve 164 can be operated by a user to eject the agent from the dispense can 104 through the release valve 164 and the ejection device 170 based on pressure conditions described below. Other ejection devices 170 are alternatively possible.

[0097] The refill valve 162 is preferably located on the underside of the dispense canister 104, which allows the dispense canister 104 to be intuitively and stably mounted on the receiving apparatus 102 of the refill station 100. Conversely, the release valve 164 in Figure 9 is located on the top side of the dispense canister 104, which allows a user to simply operate a release device 170 on the top side of the dispense canister 104 to expel the agent from the dispense canister 104.

[0098] To ensure a fluid connection between the bag 160 and the valves 162, 164, both the refill valve 162 and the release valve 164 may be welded or otherwise fluid-tightly attached to the bag 160, which may be constructed, for example, as a metal film.

[0099] The dispense can 104 further comprises a rigid can housing 166, which may be made, for example, of a suitably shaped metal sheet, which receives and surrounds the bag 160 on all sides. The can housing 166 is substantially hollow cylindrical in design and has a concave recess 157 on the bottom side, which makes it possible to improve the stability of the dispense can 104 on the floor surface. The recess 157 further improves the mechanical resistance of the dispense can 104 against deformations. In addition to this, the recess 157 has the advantage that the end area of ​​the refill valve 162 protruding from the can housing 166 is arranged in the recess 157 protected from mechanical influences, but is nevertheless exposed for a fluid link with the receiving device 102. As shown in FIG. 9, the refill valve 162 is exposed at the bottom side and the discharge valve 164 at the top side relative to the can housing 166 and is therefore accessible from the outside.

[0100] The pressure medium, for example compressed air at an overpressure above atmospheric pressure (for example in the range of 1.5 bar to 4 bar), is preferably filled in the hermetically closed volume 168 between the bag 160 and the canister housing 166. It is impossible for the pressure medium to leak through the refill valve 162 or the release valve 164. The pressure medium thereby remains permanently in the volume 168 where it can function as a working medium for exerting a pre-pressure on the active substance in the bag 160.

[0101] For example, in order to fill the pressure medium between the bag 160 and the canister housing 166 at the factory, the pressure medium can be filled through the discharge valve 164 (for this purpose, in particular a distribution pipe 172, which will be described in more detail later, can be used in combination, for which the distribution pipe can be temporarily separated from the refill valve 162 at the bottom and, unlike in FIG. 9, can protrude from the bag 160 at the bottom if necessary). The filling of the volume 168 with the pressure medium at the factory can also take place via a separate valve (not shown), for example in the canister housing 166.

[0102] Due to the material of the bag 160 being impermeable to the active substance and the pressure medium, the active substance in the bag 160 and the pressure medium in the bag 160 and the canister housing 166 are pressure- or force-coupled to one another by the flexible bag 160, whereas direct physical contact between the active substance and the pressure medium is excluded. That is to say, the pressure medium is not in physical contact with the active substance, but is pressure-coupled to it. Due to the spatial separation of the active substance and the pressure medium, the operational safety of the dispense canister 104 is improved, since any chemical interaction between the active substance and the pressure medium is prevented. This further prevents the pressure medium from leaking out of the dispense canister 104 when the active substance is dispensed from the dispense canister 104. This highly preferably makes it unnecessary to replenish the dispense canister 104 with the pressure medium when refilling the dispense canister 104 with the active substance, since the same pressure medium can be used as before to pressure-load the refilled active substance after refilling with the active substance.

[0103] 9 further shows a distribution tube 172 in the bag 160, fitted on the underside to the refill valve 162. On the top side, the distribution tube 172 is fixedly connected to the release valve 164. Based on such a configuration, for example, an agent coming from the agent container 114 and delivered through the refill valve 162 into the dispense can 104 is delivered first to the inner diameter of the distribution tube 172 and then through a number of side wall openings 174 of the perforated distribution tube 172 to the interior of the bag 160. In a similar manner, an agent from the bag 160 to be discharged (e.g., sprayed or sprayed) from the dispense can 104 through the release valve 164 is delivered from the bag 160 through the side wall openings 174 into the distribution tube 172 and from there through the release valve 164 and the release device 170 to the surroundings of the dispense can 104. The side wall openings 174 thus form through-holes 176 for the active substance between the interior of the distribution tube 172 and the receiving volume of the bag 160. This has the advantage that when the active substance is refilled, it is filled into the bag 160 in parallel at different height levels, which in particular simplifies refilling with a deflated or folded bag 160. In a similar manner, when the active substance is discharged, it can be guided simultaneously through multiple through-holes 176 first into the distribution tube 172 and from there through the discharge valve 164, which leads to a more uniform emptying of the bag 160. The distribution tube 172 preferably has multiple side wall openings 174 offset from one another in the axial and radial directions, so that a more uniform transport of the active substance is caused both axially and radially. If a perforated distribution tube 172 with multiple side wall openings 174 is arranged inside the dispense can 104, the bag 160 can be filled and also emptied more uniformly. In particular, it will be appreciated that as the bag 160 is rapidly emptied by active substance delivery, the perforated distribution tube 172 prevents the bag 160 from wrinkling, which would make refilling difficult.

[0104] The distribution tube 172 can preferably have a telescopic mechanism to allow for length compensation of the distribution tube 172. It is clear that the distribution tube 172 can be made up of several pipe sections arranged inside each other, connected to each other and each capable of being shifted to different effective lengths. When the bag 160 unfolds / folds or expands / contracts, the distribution tube 172 can automatically adapt to the bag 160 in terms of its length, thereby ensuring that the dispense canister 104 is protected from damage during operation.

[0105] By simply fitting the distribution tube 172 over the refill valve 162, and due to the telescopic configuration of the distribution tube 172, each component of the dispense canister 104 is mechanically unloaded during operation because limited compensation is allowed between these components in a defined manner.

[0106] The discharge valve 164 can be, for example, a Bag on Valve (BoV) valve, through which a one-time filling of the volume 168 with a pressure medium (in particular compressed air or propane or butane) can also take place. A screwable medium valve can be used as the refill valve 162, for example. The refill valve 162 can be attached to the underside of the canister housing 166 by means of a seal 161 (for example an O-ring).

[0107] FIG. 10 shows a refilling mechanism 116 including a refilling station 100, an active substance container 114, and a refillable dispensing canister 104 having separate storage volumes for the active substance and the pressure medium, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0108] The refilling mechanism 116 shown in FIG. 10 includes a refilling station 100 having a receiving device 102 that may be configured to receive a dispense can 104 to be refilled with an agent, which may be configured, for example, as shown in FIG. 5. The refilling station 100 may further include a control device 110, for example configured as a processor, which may be configured, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, for controlling the refilling of the dispense can 104 with the agent. The dispense can 104 (e.g., configured as shown in FIG. 9) may be attached to the receiving device 102. In addition, in FIG. 10, two different agent containers 114 containing the agents to be refilled may be fluidly linked to the receiving device 102 via a supply device 120 to provide the agents for refilling the dispense can 104. Each agent container 114 may be selected, for example, by a fluid valve 159.

[0109] During the refilling of the interior of the bag 160 of the dispense can 104 from the selected agent container 114 through the refilling station 100 and its receiving device 102, the compressed gas in the volume between the bag 160, which has expanded as a result of the refilling, and the rigid can housing 166 of the dispense can 104 is pressurized or brought to a higher pressure. That is, the compressed gas that was under overpressure before the dispense can 104 was emptied of agent and that has partially relaxed under a pressure drop due to the release of the agent and the resulting contraction of the bag 160 can be automatically brought to a high overpressure again by the refilling process and is available as a delivery pressure when dispensing the refilled agent. This has the advantage that no user action beyond the release of the refill is required to reactivate the partially relaxed compressed gas.

[0110] 11-13 show various views of a method for manufacturing a refillable dispense canister 104 having separate containment volumes for an active substance and a pressure medium according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0111] With reference to Fig. 11, the distribution tube 172 and the dump valve 164 preassembled thereto are inserted into the receiving volume of the canister housing 166. In Fig. 11, the distribution tube 172 is open on the underside and is wrapped circumferentially by the folded bag 160, whereby the bag 160 including the distribution tube 172 is inserted into the canister housing 166. Fig. 12 shows the result of the assembly procedure shown in Fig. 11. With reference to Fig. 13, the refill valve 162 is attached, for example screwed, to the underside of the canister housing 166. The refill valve 162 can then be fitted onto the underside of the distribution tube 172.

[0112] Compressed gas is filled once into the volume 168, not shown in Figures 11 to 13, in particular by the release valve 164 and the distribution tube 172. When the distribution tube 172 is attached to the refill valve 162, the active substance can be filled through the refill valve 162, which moves the bag 160 from the folded state of Figure 11 to the expanded state with the folds open (see Figure 9). Around the bag 160, the compressed pressure medium exerts pressure on the active substance in the bag 160. This pressure is used when the active substance is released from the release valve 164.

[0113] It should be noted that "having" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "eine" or "ein" does not exclude a plurality. It should be further noted that the elements or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments can also be applied in combination with other elements or steps of the other embodiments described above. The reference signs in the claims should not be considered as limitations.

Claims

1. A deformable bag for containing an active substance; a refill valve coupled to the bag for connection to a refill station for refilling the bag with the agent; a release valve coupled to the bag for user-defined release of the agent from the bag; a distribution tube disposed at least regionally within the bag, the distribution tube being disposed at least regionally between the refill valve and the release valve and having at least one sidewall opening for forming at least one penetration for the active substance between an interior of the distribution tube and a receiving volume of the bag; A refillable dispense canister for dispensing an active substance, wherein the dispensing tube is loosely fitted or fixedly connected over the refill valve.

2. The dispense canister of claim 1 , wherein the refill valve is located on a bottom surface of the dispense canister.

3. The dispense canister of claim 1 or 2, wherein the release valve is located on an upper surface of the dispense canister.

4. 3. A dispense canister according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the refill valve and / or the release valve are fluid-tightly attached to the bag, in particular welded or glued.

5. 3. The dispense canister of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a rigid canister housing surrounding said bag, said refill valve and said release valve being exposed to said canister housing.

6. 6. The dispense canister of claim 5, comprising a pressure medium, in particular a compressed gas, in a receiving volume between the bag and the canister housing.

7. 7. The dispense canister of claim 6, wherein the pressure medium is prevented from leaking through the refill valve and / or the release valve.

8. The dispense canister of claim 5 , wherein the release valve is configured to charge a pressure medium between the bag and the canister housing.

9. 7. The dispense canister of claim 6, wherein the agent in the bag and the pressure medium between the bag and the canister housing are pressure coupled to one another by the bag without the agent and the pressure medium directly contacting one another.

10. The dispense canister of claim 5 , wherein a storage volume between the bag and the canister housing is hermetically closed.

11. 6. The dispense canister of claim 5, wherein the canister housing is curved at its underside, in particular concavely curved.

12. 3. The dispense canister of claim 1 or 2, wherein the bag is elastically deformable and / or expandable.

13. 3. A dispense canister according to claim 1 or 2, which has a discharge device, in particular a jet head, above the discharge valve.

14. The dispense canister of claim 1 , wherein the distribution tube has a plurality of the sidewall openings disposed axially and / or radially offset from one another.

15. 10. The dispense canister of claim 1, wherein the dispensing tube has a telescopic mechanism to allow for length compensation of the dispensing tube.

16. A deformable bag for containing an active substance; a refill valve coupled to the bag for connection to a refill station for refilling the bag with the agent; a release valve coupled to the bag for user-defined release of the agent from the bag; a distribution tube disposed at least regionally within the bag, the distribution tube being disposed at least regionally between the refill valve and the release valve and having at least one sidewall opening for forming at least one penetration for the active substance between an interior of the distribution tube and a receiving volume of the bag; A refillable dispense canister for dispensing an active substance, said dispensing tube having a telescopic mechanism for allowing compensation of the length of said dispensing tube.

17. 17. The dispense canister of claim 16, wherein the dispensing tube is loosely fitted or fixedly connected over the refill valve.

18. 17. The dispense canister of claim 16, wherein the dispensing tube is fixedly coupled or loosely fitted over the release valve.

19. a refilling station having a receiving device for receiving a dispense canister to be refilled with an active substance and a control device for controlling the refilling of the dispense canister with the active substance; A refill mechanism comprising: a dispense canister according to claim 1 or 2 attachable or attached to the receiving device.

20. A refill mechanism as described in claim 19, having an active substance container containing the active substance and linked or linkable with the receiving device to provide the active substance for refilling the dispense canister.

21. The refill valve of a dispensing can of claim 1 or 2 to be refilled with the active substance is received in a receiving device of the refilling station; a control device of the refilling station controlling the refilling of the dispense canister with the agent; and (b) a refill station for recharging the fuel.

22. A method of operating a refilling station as described in claim 21, wherein refilling of the active substance causes a pressure medium, in particular a compressed gas, in a closed storage volume between the bag and a rigid can housing of the dispense can to be pressurized.

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