A refilling station for a dispensing can having a scale for determining the weight information of the dispensing can in the receiving device

Abstract

The refilling station (100) includes a receiving device (102) for receiving a dispense can (104) to be refilled with an active substance, a scale (126) for detecting weight information associated with the dispense can (104) in the receiving device (102) prior to and / or during the refilling process, and a control device (110) configured to control the refilling of the dispense can (104) with the active substance based on the detected weight information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a refill station, a refilling mechanism, and a method for operating a refill station.

[0002] Dispensing cans that can be automatically refilled by a refill station are known. One such well-known refill station is the REFILLO® mat-Station of applicant Wurth. This safe and economical system relies on automatically refilling an empty dispensing can with the active substance and compressed air. This makes it possible to fill the dispensing can with the active substance from a large container (for example, a canister or a drum). For this purpose, the dispensing cans for the individual active substances are pressed against the corresponding refill station. And the filling of the dispensing can with the active substance and compressed air is carried out at a predetermined ratio. In order to prevent the misalignment between the dispensing can and the corresponding active substance, the can receptacle is mechanically coded, whereby only the correct dispensing can can be mechanically attached to the correct can receptacle. Thereby, only the mechanically compatible dispensing cans can be used at the corresponding refill station. In this way, the misalignment between the active substance and the dispensing can, which can be dangerous depending on the situation, is mechanically suppressed.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a refill station for refilling a dispensing can with high precision.

[0004] This problem is solved by an object having the components described in the independent claims. Other embodiments are shown in the dependent claims.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a refilling station having a receiving device for receiving a dispensing can to be refilled with an active substance, a scale for detecting weight information related to the dispensing can in the receiving device (in particular related to the dispensing can including the receiving device) before and / or during the refilling process, and a control device configured to control the refilling of the dispensing can with the active substance based on the detected weight information.

[0006] In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a refilling mechanism having a refilling station with the components described above and a dispensing can that is attachable to or attached to the receiving device, and the scale can detect weight information related to the dispensing can in the receiving device (in particular related to the dispensing can including the receiving device) when the dispensing can is attached to the receiving device.

[0007] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a refilling station, the method comprising: receiving a dispensing can to be refilled with an active substance in a receiving device of the refilling station; detecting, by a scale, weight data related to the dispensing can in the receiving device (in particular related to the dispensing can including the receiving device) before and / or during the refilling process; and controlling the refilling of the dispensing can with the active substance based on the detected weight information.

[0008] Within the scope of the present application, a "refilling station" can be understood in particular as a device configured to refill a dispensing can that is at least partially empty and is mechanically and fluidly linkable to the refilling station with an active substance from an active substance container to be connected. Thus, the refilling station can provide a fluid connection between a container for providing the active substance to be refilled and the dispensing can to be refilled, and optionally can be configured to provide compressed gas to be refilled to the dispensing can.

[0009] Within the scope of the present application, the "receptacle" is to be understood as a mechanical and fluid adapter in particular, which is configured to receive a dispensing can to be refilled, in particular in a form-fitting manner, and which can supply an active substance and / or a compressed gas to the dispensing can when in the received state. Beyond the mechanical adapter function, the receptacle can also function as a fluid adapter for providing a fluid connection between a container containing the active substance and a dispensing can to be refilled with the active substance.

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

[0011] Within the scope of the present application, the "active substance" can be understood, in particular, as a medium that provides the original function of the dispensing can in the state ejected from the dispensing can. Such an active substance may have a liquid, a gel, a viscous medium, and / or a gas, and optionally solid particles. For example, such active substances can be cleaning agents (such as brake cleaners), rust removers, maintenance oils, silicone sprays, window glass cleaners, leak tester media, welding sprays, etc. At the refill station, such an active substance can be refilled from a container (such as a canister) into the dispensing can to be refilled.

[0012] Within the scope of the present application, the "control device" can be understood, in particular, as a device that controls the process of refilling the active substance into the dispensing can, allows it in a particularly defined manner, or prevents it in case of an error. In particular, such a control device can have at least one processor and / or part of a processor that evaluates the information provided regarding the intended and / or executed refilling process and optionally executes, adapts, limits, extends, or makes impossible the refilling process. In particular, the control device controls or controls the individual components of the refill station for this purpose.

[0013] Within the framework of the present invention, the "scale" can be understood as an instrument that can, in particular, perform mass determination or weight determination, or provide data that serves as an indicator for mass or weight. The measurement of the mass of one or more objects by a scale can be carried out through the measurement of the force of the weight of one or more objects. In an embodiment of the present invention, the scale may be configured to determine the mass or weight of a dispensing can assembled to a receiving device, in particular to determine the sum of the weight of the receiving device and the weight of the dispensing can (more particularly its empty weight). Alternatively, in one embodiment, it is also possible to determine by means of a scale the weight of the dispensing can and the receiving device, including its partial or total filling with the active substance and / or compressed gas. In a particular embodiment, it is possible to determine by means of a scale the weight of a dispensing can that is empty or partially or fully filled with the active substance and / or compressed gas, including at least one part of the refilling station, in particular including its receiving device.

[0014] Within the framework of the present invention, the "weight information related to the dispensing can in the receiving device" can be understood, in particular, as the information detected by a scale when the dispensing can is in the receiving device and is weighed by the scale. Such weight information may be provided in the form of raw measurement data detected by the scale or in the form of processed measurement data of the scale. Furthermore, such weight information can relate to the weight of the dispensing can (for example completely empty) or the weight of the dispensing can including its filling with the active substance and / or compressed gas (for example partially or fully filled), and preferably the weight of the receiving device or a part thereof is added thereto respectively.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, before and / or during the refilling of a dispensing can that has been at least partially emptied with an active substance and / or a compressed gas, a mass determination or a weight determination is performed as an indicator of the weight of the dispensing can assembled to the receiving device of the refilling station. In this way, it is possible to accurately and appropriately control the refilling process in response to the detected weight information. In particular, based on the weight information accurately detected in a simple manner by a scale, the latest filling degree of the dispensing can can be determined and the refilling process can be controlled in a corresponding manner. Thereby, with a low cost related to measurement technology and devices, not only undesirable partial refilling but also, in some cases, overfilling of dangerous dispensing cans can be avoided. Partial refilling means that the interval between two refills of the dispensing can becomes unnecessarily short and it is laborious for the user. If the dispensing can is overfilled, in some situations there is concern about its explosion, which may be associated with the risk of injury to the user and the destruction of the dispensing can. By performing the refilling process of a refillable dispensing can using a refilling station based on the latest weight information regarding the dispensing can to be refilled in the receiving device, a high operating safety during the refilling operation can be ensured with significant user-friendliness. The weight information regarding the dispensing can in the state assembled to the receiving device is detected by a scale, whereby it becomes possible to estimate the amount of the active substance and / or the compressed gas to be refilled during the refilling process into a dispensing can that has been at least partially emptied, and thus the flow measurement of the active substance and / or the compressed gas, which has been difficult or inaccurate conventionally, for quantifying the filling amount of the dispensing can may become unnecessary. The weight detection is preferably performed by a scale when the dispensing can is attached to the receiving device. In that case, the weight of the receiving device included in the weight detection can be taken into account in the calculation or removed, and thus the weight evaluation for controlling the refilling process of the dispensing can is not disrupted.The user only needs to attach the dispensing can to the receiving device, and the scale and the control device handle the rest.

[0016] Examples of additional embodiments of the refill station, the refill mechanism, and the method are described below.

[0017] In one example, the scale-based quantification of the filling level of the dispensing can, as described above, can be combined with flow measurement to further improve the accuracy or database for determining the filling degree of the dispensing can.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the scale may be disposed below the receiving device, and the dispensing can may be disposed upright when received in the receiving device. In other words, the dispensing can can be assembled to stand on top of the receiving device disposed thereunder in a manner that is particularly intuitive for the user, and further, the receiving device may be disposed above the scale. In that case, the receiving device on which the dispensing can is disposed acts on the scale. Such an embodiment is shown in FIG. 9.

[0019] In another exemplary embodiment, the scale may be disposed above the receiving device, and the dispensing can may be disposed upside down when received in the receiving device. It is clear that the dispensing can can be disposed to be suspended during filling, and a receiving device for receiving it may be disposed above the dispensing can, and further, the receiving device may be disposed below the scale. In this way, the receiving device on which the dispensing can is disposed acts on the scale. Such an embodiment is shown in FIG. 10.

[0020] In an exemplary embodiment, the scale may be a balance scale. The balance scale can be referred to as a weighing device composed of a horizontal rod movably supported on a horizontal axis. The balance scale applied based on the exemplary embodiment of the present invention can have a symmetric two-arm lever rotatably supported at a center above the center of gravity, and this lever is loaded at one end by a receiving device and a dispensing can assembled thereto, and at the other end by a reference mass or the like. In another embodiment, other scales such as a spring scale can be applied.

[0021] In an exemplary embodiment, the scale can have a safety mechanism configured for protection against overloading of the scale. Such a safety mechanism protects the refilling station from an overly high weight that could damage each component of the refilling station. For example, the safety mechanism can have a double-plate spring attached to one end of the scale rod of the scale, facing the other end of the scale rod, and this other end is force-coupled to the receiving device and the dispensing can when received in the receiving device. Such preventive measures preserve the scale when an overly high weight is applied thereto. Thereby, a mechanically robust refilling station can be provided.

[0022] In an exemplary embodiment, the control device may be configured to determine the remaining filling amount of the dispensing can before the refilling process based on weight information determined by a scale before the refilling process, and to control the refilling process based on this weight information, in particular to avoid overfilling of the dispensing can. By performing the determination of the remaining filling amount before executing the refilling of a dispensing can that has only partially emptied so far, the subsequent refilling process can be accurately adjusted so that there is no concern of underfilling or overfilling after completion of the refilling process of the dispensing can. To determine the remaining filling amount of a dispensing can that has only partially emptied, for example, based on the known weight of a receiving device that receives the dispensing can and on the known empty weight of the dispensing can, the weight of the dispensing can including the partial filling amount and the receiving device is determined by a scale, and the weight of the receiving device and the empty weight of the dispensing can can be subtracted therefrom. The empty weight of the dispensing can may be known in advance or can be determined by the identification indication of the dispensing can, for example, by reading out dispensing can data that characterizes the dispensing can by a transponder reading device from a dispensing can transponder of the dispensing can with a receiving device.

[0023] In an exemplary embodiment, the control device may be configured to determine weight information by a scale during the refilling process and to continue the refilling process based on this weight information thereafter. For example, the weight of the dispensing can is detected continuously or at time intervals during the execution of the refilling process (for example, in combination with a receiving device and / or at least one other component of the refilling process), thereby enabling the progress of the refilling to be determined. This enables precise control or follow-up control of the remaining part of the refilling process at any time. In particular, by tracking the progress of each refilling, prediction of the remaining refilling process can also be made possible by extrapolation, and accordingly, the accuracy of the refilling process can be further improved.

[0024] In an exemplary embodiment, the control device may be configured to control the refilling process based on a determination of the weight difference of the dispensing can in the receiving device, which is performed by a scale before the refilling process and after at least one part of the refilling process, in particular based on actual - target - comparison. If the initial weight of a completely empty dispensing can, or the initial weight of a dispensing can that is only partially empty, as well as the remaining filling amount at the start is known or has been determined by measurement techniques, it is sufficient to determine the weight difference before, during and / or at the end of the refilling process in order to properly continue the refilling process or to end it at the correct time. The weight determination before and after the refilling process can be performed in a simple manner by a scale. The remaining filling amount of the dispensing can that may be present at the start of the refilling process can be determined by determining the weight of the dispensing can in the receiving device before the execution of the refilling process if the empty weight of the receiving device is known or has been measured and the empty weight of the dispensing can is known or has been measured.

[0025] In an exemplary embodiment, the scale may be configured to detect weight information serving as an indicator for the total weight of the dispensing can, the remaining filling amount of the active substance in the dispensing can, and a part of the refilling station (in particular the filling device) before and / or during the refilling process. The control device may be configured to control the refilling of the dispensing can with the active substance based on the detected weight information. In the case where only a simple determination of the above-mentioned total weight suffices to determine the shortage amount to be filled in order to completely refill the dispensing can in combination with a known individual weight (for example, the receiving device, the empty weight of the dispensing can), or an individually detectable weight (in particular using the transponder of the dispensing can), and / or an individually determinable weight by the scale (for example, the receiving device without the dispensing can), it is possible to dispense with the individual weight determination of, for example, a partially filled dispensing can, which can dispense with the need to directly attach a scale to the dispensing can at high cost. Instead, for example, the scale can be attached directly to the receiving device and thus only indirectly to the dispensing can, which is even simpler in terms of the device.

[0026] In an exemplary embodiment, the refill station can have a transponder reader for reading dispenser can-related data of a dispenser can transponder attached to the dispenser can when the dispenser can is attached to the receiving device, and the control device is configured to control the refill of the dispenser can with the active substance based on the read dispenser can-related data. In particular, the transponder reader can be configured to read dispenser can-related data that indicates the tare weight of the dispenser can, the active substance to be filled into the dispenser can, and / or the maximum filling amount of the dispenser can. For example, an RFID tag can be attached to the dispenser can as the dispenser can transponder and can be read by a transponder reader of the refill station configured, for example, as an RFID reader. The dispenser can transponder assigned to the dispenser can may store dispenser can-related data such as, for example, the tare weight of the dispenser can, the maximum filling amount of the dispenser can, and information (such as its density) regarding the active substance accommodated in the dispenser can. Such information can be used as a basis for controlling the refill process for refilling the dispenser can with the active substance and / or compressed gas, especially when performing a weight difference determination.

[0027] As an alternative or supplement thereto, for the control of the refilling process of a dispensing can for refilling with an active substance and / or a compressed gas, substance-related data can be read from a substance container transponder (for example another RFID tag) associated with a substance container that provides the active substance to be refilled into the dispensing can. For example, the substance-related data can provide information about the active substance to be refilled into the dispensing can, such as its density. The substance-related data can be read by a transponder reader device at the refilling station. Such information can be used as a basis for the control of the refilling process for refilling the dispensing can with the active substance and / or the compressed gas, especially when performing a weight difference determination.

[0028] In an exemplary embodiment, the receiving device can have a receiving side for receiving the dispensing can and a weighing side facing the receiving side, on which a scale and a supply connection for supplying the active substance and / or the compressed gas to the dispensing can to be received on the receiving side are attached. By arranging both the scale and the supply connection for supplying the medium to the dispensing can to be refilled on the weighing side of the receiving device facing the receiving side for attaching the dispensing can to the receiving device by the user, the scale and the supply connection are protected against mechanical influences when the dispensing can is attached to the receiving device by the user. Thereby, the refilling station can withstand severe conditions during operation, and the weight determination function and the provision of the medium to the dispensing can are not impaired.

[0029] In an exemplary embodiment, the receiving device has a protrusion on the weighing side, to which a scale is attached. The protrusion delimits a notch through which a supply connection is inserted. For example, the protrusion may be configured by a plurality of pins or as an annular protrusion. The rigid protrusion serves for the force coupling between the receiving device and the scale, which enables the determination of weight information serving as an indicator for the weight of the dispensing can. At the same time, the protrusion delimits the notch circumferentially, in which a fluid interface in the form of a supply connection for supplying a medium (in particular an active substance and / or a compressed gas) to the receiving device and from there to the dispensing can received therein is protected and accommodated. The configuration described above is space-saving and enables accurate weight determination and simultaneous supply of the medium, and is less affected by pressure shocks when the dispensing can to be refilled is mounted on the receiving device.

[0030] In an exemplary embodiment, the control device may be configured to determine the remaining amount of the active substance in the dispensing can before the refilling process based on the detection of weight information by the scale and to correspondingly control the subsequent refilling process. In particular, the determination of the remaining filling amount of the dispensing can to be refilled based on weight determination enables the accurate determination of the amount of the active substance and optionally the compressed gas to be refilled into the remaining filled dispensing can.

[0031] In an exemplary embodiment, the refilling mechanism can have an active substance container that contains an active substance and is linked or linkable to the receiving device to provide the active substance for refilling the dispensing can. Such an active substance container may be, for example, a canister or a drum having a storage volume for the active substance in the range of, for example, 5 l to 100 l, in particular in the range of 5 l to 80 l.

[0032] In an exemplary embodiment, the refilling mechanism can have a gas reservoir configured to provide compressed gas and linked or linkable to a receiving device to provide compressed gas for refilling the dispensing can. Such a gas reservoir can be, for example, a pressurized gas container or a connection to a pressurized gas pipeline. When the dispensing can is configured as a BoV (Bag-on-Valve) dispensing can in which compressed gas is constantly built-in and does not leak from the dispensing can when the active substance is discharged, a compressed gas reservoir for refilling the dispensing can may not be required.

[0033] Next, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0034]

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[0035] The same or similar components in different drawings are labeled with the same reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] Before describing exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings, some general aspects of the embodiments of the present invention will be further described.

[0037] In each embodiment of the present invention, a refilling station is provided for filling or refilling a dispensing can with an active substance from a container (e.g., a 20 l canister or a 60 l drum). The dispensing can may be, for example, an aerosol can having a filling valve on its lower surface. Further, a mechanical coding corresponding to the corresponding shape of the receiving device of the refilling station may be configured on the lower surface of the dispensing can. In addition, the dispensing can may have an injection valve on its upper surface for discharging the active substance or medium from the dispensing can.

[0038] The filling station can have a fluid connection to the container from which the active substance is filled into the dispensing can to be refilled. For example, such a fluid connection can be constituted by a hose for supplying the active substance or medium from the container of the refilling station to the dispensing can. Such a hose is preferably of the ESD attenuation type (ESD = electrostatic discharge). In particular, the refilling station can have a receiving device or mounting device for a dispensing can with a mechanical coding in order to be able to set only the dispensing cans coded to mechanically fit to the corresponding refilling station. Furthermore, the receiving device can be provided with a locking part for holding the dispensing can in the receiving device during its filling. The dispensing can is preferably configured to be rotatable about its major axis so that it can be positioned freely, i.e., clearly 360° on the coding plate, regardless of the angular position relative to the receiving device without impairing the proper connection between the dispensing can and the receiving device. Optionally, the refilling station can be equipped with a compressed air connection for filling the dispensing can with compressed air together with the active substance (compressed air is available, for example, in any automobile factory). The control of the filling process can be carried out by a control device. For example, when filling the dispensing can, the active substance can be sent first and then the compressed medium (for example, compressed air). Both of them can be pneumatically controlled, for example, by a three-way valve. For this purpose, the refilling station can be equipped with a piston having a cylinder (for example, a special steel cylinder or a plastic cylinder) for containing the active substance and filling a defined amount of the active substance into the dispensing can.

[0039] The refill station is preferably connectable to an electrical potential compensation unit. This is because friction of the active substance during refilling can lead to electrostatic charging. For example, the refill station can be assembled on a shelf, and at least one container (for example, a canister having a storage volume of, for example, 20 l) may be arranged on the shelf. The refill station can be configured to have a placement portion on top of an active substance drum (having a storage volume of, for example, 60 l), or can also be configured as a support load adapter in a hazardous goods cabinet. Appropriate potential compensation can be achieved by grounding.

[0040] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in order to provide a refill station for refilling an active substance and / or a compressed gas into a dispensing can, a scale is assembled to a receiving device that receives the dispensing can during the refilling operation. The scale is configured to detect weight information that indicates the current mass or current weight of the dispensing can in the receiving device that is currently completely empty, partially filled, or completely filled, before and / or during the filling process. In particular, the weight information detected by the scale can determine the current filling degree of the dispensing can, and based on this, it is possible to determine how the refilling process should be executed or continued in order to achieve the target filling state of the dispensing can. By refilling the dispensing can based on weight or in a weight-controlled manner, there is an advantage that not only undesirable underfilling of the dispensing can but also dangerous overfilling can be avoided. Therefore, not only can the refilling process be executed safely, but it is also possible to avoid unnecessarily short refill intervals during a continuous refill procedure for refilling the dispensing can with the active substance and / or the compressed gas, and accordingly, it can be executed in a user-friendly manner.

[0041] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the scale is a receiving device of a refilling station for refilling a refillable dispensing can, for example, measuring the weight or mass of a dispensing can configured as an aerosol can before and during the filling process. In particular, the amount of medium (in particular, the active substance and / or the pressure medium) to be injected into the dispensing can can be measured through a scale configured as a weighing scale, for example. By performing the weighing process when filling the dispensing can, there is an advantage that the filling amount can be limited. In one preferred embodiment, the control or regulation of the refilling process by the control device enables the controlled filling of the dispensing can while performing a target / actual comparison. For example, the current actual filling of the dispensing can can be determined by the scale and compared with the target filling. The refilling process can be continued until the actual filling reaches the target filling and then terminated. Before or at the start of the refilling process, the remaining amount of the active substance and / or the compressed gas in the dispensing can, which is optionally configured as an aerosol can, for example, can be measured. The refilling process can be adapted according to such weight information.

[0042] The scale of the refill station may be configured to determine the weight or mass of the medium (especially the active substance and / or the compressed gas) in the dispensing can, of the dispensing can itself (configured, for example, as an aerosol can), and of the filling device (especially the receiving device in which the dispensing can to be refilled is received for refilling). Such a configuration has the advantage that it is not necessary to take into account by complex means to determine exactly only the weight of the dispensing can itself. For example, instead, before and during the filling process, and / or at different times during the filling process, for example, after determining the weight difference of known dispensing cans having known empty weights and / or known remaining filling amounts, even when the weight determination is performed including the receiving device, information regarding the dispensing can can be derived. This simplifies the configuration of the scale. In that case, it can be attached to the receiving device in a simple manner and does not have to be directly arranged on the dispensing can in a complex manner.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a refilling mechanism 116 having a refilling station 100, an active substance container 114, and a dispensing can 104, based on an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The refilling mechanism 116 serves to fill or refill the dispensing can 104, which is fully or partially empty or emptied, with an active substance (such as a brake cleaner) so that the dispensing can 104 can be filled by the user in a simple manner with the assigned active substance. And the active substance can be ejected at the place of use, or more generally, can be discharged from the dispensing can 104. And after the dispensing can 104 becomes empty or becomes empty again, the refilling mechanism 116 can refill the dispensing can 104 with a new active substance again, and so on.

[0044] For this purpose, the refill station 100 has a receiving device 102 that functions as a dispenser can adapter for receiving the dispenser can 104 to be refilled with the active substance in a form-fitting and fluid-linked manner. The receiving device 102 may be configured as a coding plate having a mechanical interface that is adapted in shape to the corresponding mechanical interface of the dispenser can 104 to be refilled. In this way, only the mechanically compatible dispenser can 104 can be attached to the receiving device 102, which makes it almost impossible for incorrect operation to occur. Although not shown in FIG. 1, a locking device may be attached to the receiving device 102, and by this locking device, the dispenser can 104 attached to the receiving device 102 can be locked by the receiving device 102 during filling. In this way, it is possible to prevent the pressure or acting force exerted on the dispenser can 104 during refilling from causing the dispenser can 104 to unintentionally detach from the receiving device 102. After the refilling is completed, the locking device can be automatically released from the dispenser can 104, or the dispenser can 104 can be shifted to the released state by the operation of the user. Then the user can remove the refilled dispenser can 104 from the receiving device 102 and take it to the place of use.

[0045] Furthermore, the refill mechanism 116 can have a substance container 114 that can be filled with an active substance (for example, a brake cleaner) to be refilled, for example, as a canister or a drum. In this way, the substance container 114 contains the active substance to be filled into the dispenser can 104 and may be fluidly linked to or linkable to the receiving device 102 to provide the active substance for refilling the dispenser can 104.

[0046] If the dispensing can 104 is not a Bag-on-Valve (BoV) dispensing can that is constantly contained in a compression medium and is different from the one in FIG. 1 to which the following description refers, the refilling mechanism 116 can further have a gas reservoir 124 that is fluidly linked to, or linkable to, the receiving device 102 and is configured to provide compressed gas. In this way, the gas reservoir 124 can provide compressed gas (e.g., compressed air) for filling the dispensing can 104. For example, the gas reservoir 124 may be a connection to a compressed gas pipe, or may be a compressed gas cylinder containing gas under negative pressure.

[0047] As shown explicitly in FIG. 1, in the illustrated embodiment, at least one valve 111 configured as a three-way valve can form a fluid connection between the working substance container 114, an optional compressed gas reservoir 124, and the receiving device 102. As shown, the receiving device 102 may be fluidly linked to a working substance supply device 120 for supplying the working substance from the working substance container 114 to the dispensing can 104 received in the receiving device 102. Further, the receiving device 102 may be fluidly linked to an optional compressed gas supply device 122 for supplying compressed gas from the gas reservoir 124 to the dispensing can 104 received in the receiving device 102. For example, at least one valve 111 can be controlled by a control device 110 such that first only the working substance is filled into the dispensing can 104 that is at least partially emptied, and then at least one valve 111 is switched so that subsequently only compressed gas is filled from the gas reservoir 124 into the dispensing can 104. Thereby, it can be ensured that a predefined amount of the working substance is filled into the dispensing can 104. A delivery device 113, such as a pump, may be arranged between the working substance container 114 and the receiving device 102 for delivering the working substance from the working substance container 114 to the receiving device 102 and from there into the dispensing can 104. Optionally, a delivery device 115, such as a compressor or a pump, may also be arranged between the gas reservoir 124 and the receiving device 102.

[0048] Figure 1 shows, with an arrow, how the dispensing can 104 is mounted on the receiving device 102. In the bottom region of the dispensing can 104, in the region of its refill valve 162, the dispensing can 104 is equipped with a dispensing can transponder 108, such as an RFID tag. In the above bottom region, the dispensing can 104 is received by the receiving device 102. Such a contactless communicable dispensing can transponder 108 can be attached, for example, as a label to the dispensing can 104, or can be mounted or embedded on and / or inside the surface of the can housing 166. Dispensing can related data is stored in the solid state drive of the dispensing can transponder 108, which can, for example, identify or characterize the dispensing can 104 as well as the active substance to be filled therein, and / or include information regarding the storage volume of the dispensing can 104, information regarding the desired compressed gas characteristics in the dispensing can 104, information regarding the user of the dispensing can 104, and the like.

[0049] The receiving device 102 is provided with a transponder reading device 106 for non-contact reading of the dispenser can related data of the dispenser can transponder 108 attached to the dispenser can 104. The transponder reading device 106 is arranged in the area of the receiving device 102 such that the dispenser can 104 enters the reading area of the transponder reading device 106 only when the dispenser can 104 is attached to the receiving device 102. Thereby, there is an advantage that it is ensured that an incorrect reading process by the transponder reading device 106 of the dispenser can 104 in a peripheral area further away from the transponder reading device 106 is reliably prevented. For this purpose, the transponder technology that serves as the basis for communication between the transponder reading device 106 and the dispenser can transponder 108 may be configured as a short reach range transponder technology having a reach range of, for example, 10 cm or less, particularly 5 cm or less (for example, as a short reach range RFID technology). Accordingly, the dispenser can related data of the dispenser can transponder 108 can be selectively read out by the transponder reading device 106 only when the dispenser can 104 is attached to the receiving device 102. The read data can be supplied from the transponder reading device 106 to the control device 110, or can be stored in an electronic large-capacity memory (not shown) of the refill station 100.

[0050] The agent container 114 may also be provided with or preferably associated with an agent container transponder 112 (not shown). In the solid state memory of the agent container transponder 112, agent container related data that can be selectively read by the transponder reading device 106 when the agent container transponder 112 is attached to the housing 130 of the refill station 100 as shown in the figure is stored. In order to enable or simplify the readability of the agent container transponder 112 by the transponder reading device 106, the agent container transponder 112 may be configured as a label 132 that is separable from the agent container 114 as defined. For example, the label 132 may be configured as an adhesive label equipped with the agent container transponder 112, which the user can separate from the agent container 114 configured as a canister, for example, and attach it to the intended position on the housing 130 (for example, appropriately identified). By such attachment or pasting, or alternatively by presentation, the agent container transponder 112 can be placed within the readable range of the transponder reading device 106, whereby the agent container related data can be read by the transponder reading device 106. The agent container transponder 112 is also provided with reliable protection against the reading of incorrect agent container related data by the fact that the agent container related data can be detected by the transponder reading device 106 only after being first transferred into the readable range of the transponder reading device 106 by a defined user action. For example, the agent container related data can include information about the agent in the agent container 114, information about the filling amount or remaining filling amount in the agent container 114, information about the dispensing can 104 or refill station 100 suitable for the agent, and the like.

[0051] The control device 110 can evaluate the dispensing can-related data and the active substance container-related data provided thereto from the transponder reader 106, for example, to check their compatibility. In particular, the control device 110 can determine from the data read by the transponder reader 106 whether the active substance provided by the active substance container 114 is compatible with the dispensing can 104 received by the receiving device 102. In this way, the operating safety can be enhanced. For example, it is possible to prevent the use of a dispensing can 104 that is not suitable for a dangerous (for example, having gasoline and thus having a risk of ignition) active substance. In a similar manner, it is also possible to prevent an active substance originating from an unacceptable source from being allowed for refilling the dispensing can 104. Even when a user tries to assemble the dispensing can 104 into the receiving device 102 regardless of the incompatibility of the active substance container 114 that is fluidly linked to the receiving device 102 by illegally manipulating the shape of the dispensing can 104, this can be recognized by the control device 110 by reading the dispensing can transponder 108. Therefore, filling of a dispensing can 104 that is not suitable for a specific active substance can be reliably avoided by the above-described transponder configuration. Thereby, high operating safety when using the refilling mechanism 116 can be achieved. When the dispensing can-related data and the active substance container-related data indicate a match, the refilling process is released or allowed by the control device 110, and in other cases, the refilling process is blocked and not allowed.

[0052] Figure 1 further shows that a user terminal 134 having a software application for controlling the refilling mechanism 116 on the user side using the control device 110 is communicatively linked. The user terminal 134 may be, for example, a mobile radio that is wirelessly communicatively linked to the communication interface 119 of the refilling station 100 via a communication network 117 (such as a mobile wireless network or the public Internet). In this way, the user can transmit control commands to the refilling mechanism 116 from a remote location or monitor the operation of the refilling mechanism 116.

[0053] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, the refilling station 100 has a display device 118 for displaying information such as, for example, dispensing can-related data, agent container-related data, and / or information about the user. For example, the display device 118 may be configured as an LCD display or a touch screen. Before, during, and / or after the refilling process, the attached information can be displayed to the user on the display device 118 by the display device 118.

[0054] The refill station 100 shown in FIG. 1 can preferably have a scale 126 configured as a weighing scale, for example, to detect the weight of the dispensing can 104 in the receiving device 102 before and / or during the refill process, or weight information serving as an indicator thereof. Detecting the weight of the dispensing can 104 before the refill process can qualitatively or quantitatively determine the remaining filling amount of the dispensing can 104 due to the active substance and / or compressed gas that may be present, and by considering the remaining filling amount of the dispensing can 104 that may be present when it enables the refill process to be appropriately adapted or executed subsequently, overfilling of the dispensing can 104 can be avoided. During the refill process, it is also possible to monitor the weight increase of the dispensing can 104 to be refilled to avoid overfilling or underfilling that may occur. Therefore, the control device 110, which can receive the result of the weight detection by the scale 126, may be configured to control the refill of the dispensing can 104 with the active substance based on the detected weight.

[0055] Scale 126 may preferably be configured to detect total weight information serving as an indicator for the total weight of the dispensing can 104, the remaining filling amount of the active substance in the dispensing can 104, and a part of the refill station 100 (in particular at least one part of the receiving device 102) before and / or during the refill process. And based on the detected total weight information, the control device 110 can control the refill of the dispensing can 104 with the active substance. That is, there is an advantage that it may not be necessary to accurately detect only the weight of the dispensing can 104. It is also possible to simply detect the above-mentioned total weight, which is significantly simpler in terms of measurement technology. This is because it is not necessary to separate the dispensing can 104 and the receiving device 102 during the weight determination process. Before the dispensing can 104 is attached to the receiving device 102, the empty weight of the receiving device 102 without the dispensing can 104 is detected, so that when the total weight is determined by the scale 126 after the dispensing can 104 is attached to the receiving device 102, the remaining weight of the total weight distinguishable from the dispensing can weight can be calculated and subtracted.

[0056] As already explained, after the dispensing can 104 to be refilled is attached to the receiving device 102, the control device 110 can allow the refill of the dispensing can 104 with the active substance only when the data determined by the transponders 108, 112 indicates the compatibility between the dispensing can 104 attached to the receiving device 102 for refill and the active substance provided from the connected active substance container 114.

[0057] As an alternative or supplement, the allowance of refilling the dispensing can 104 with the agent can be determined depending on whether the agent detected by the detection device 138 meets the predetermined acceptance criteria. As the acceptance criteria, it can be applied whether the agent being delivered by the supply device 120 is an acceptable agent for the dispensing can 104 and / or whether the agent detected by the supply device 120 meets the requirements derived from an agent considered acceptable for the dispensing can 104.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 1, for characterizing and / or identifying the agent passing through the supply device 120 configured as a hose, for example, during refilling of the dispensing can 104, measurements can be performed by the detection device 138 of the agent supply device 120 for supplying the agent from the agent container 114. In this way, it is possible to recognize an agent that is about to be used for refilling the dispensing can 104 contrary to one or more predetermined acceptance criteria.

[0059] For example, optically recognizable markers such as fluorescent markers or DNA markers can be added to the agent permitted for use in refilling the dispensing can 104 at the factory side. In this way, for example, the agent permitted for use in refilling a specific dispensing can 104 and / or meeting the required quality criteria can be identified and displayed. When such an agent is being delivered through the supply device 120, it can be preferably optically detected by the detection device 138 during delivery whether the agent meets the predetermined acceptance criteria. For example, the allowability of filling the dispensing can 104 with the agent can be determined depending on the ability of the detection device 138 to optically detect the expected fluorescence signal.

[0060] Data serving as an indicator for pre-determined acceptability criteria detected by the detection device 138 can be supplied to the control device 110. And the control device 110 can allow or reject the refilling of the dispensing can 104 with the active substance depending on whether the active substance detected by the detection device 138 meets the pre-determined acceptability criteria. For example, an active substance can be allowed for filling the dispensing can 104 only when, for example, a corresponding expected fluorescence marker indicating a specific active substance and / or indicating the attribution of the active substance to an acceptable source (for example, a specific manufacturer) is included in the active substance. In this way, checking the pre-determined acceptability criteria guarantees the high quality of the active substance and the operational safety of the active substance in combination with the dispensing can 104.

[0061] In the illustrated embodiment, the detection device 138 is configured as an optical detection device for detecting pre-determined optical signal characteristics of the active substance to be refilled. The presence of the aforementioned signal characteristics indicates that the active substance meets the pre-determined acceptability criteria. At this time, the detection device 138 has the advantage that it can detect the active substance in the hose or the supply device 120, preferably during the flow through the supply device 120. When the detection device 138 determines the signal characteristics of the active substance candidate for refilling the dispensing can 104, this signal characteristic can be transmitted to the control device 110 for evaluation. And the control device 110 can determine whether the signal characteristics indicate the fulfillment of the pre-determined acceptability criteria, for example, based on a comparison between the determined actual signal characteristics and the expected target signal characteristics. And depending on the result of such an inspection, the control device 110 can take measures to allow or reject the refilling of the dispensing can 104 with the active substance.

[0062] If the detected signal characteristics indicate that the agent does not meet the acceptance criteria, the control device 110 can activate a blocking device 140 to prevent refilling of the dispensing can 104 with the agent. For example, the blocking device 140 can crush a supply device 120 configured as a flexible hose so that the agent cannot pass through the supply pipe 120. Alternatively, the blocking device 140 can introduce a curable adhesive into the supply device 120 configured as a fluid pipe, and this adhesive chemically closes the supply pipe 120, making it impossible for the agent to conduct through the supply pipe 120.

[0063] The dispensing can 104 can have a mixture of an agent and a compressed gas inside it, and when the operation nozzle 121 is operated, the agent·compressed gas·mixture is discharged or ejected from the dispensing can 104, for example, as an aerosol. In this case, for refilling the dispensing can 104, not only a new agent but also a new compressed gas is required.

[0064] Alternatively, the dispensing can 104 can be configured as a specially configured bag-on-valve dispensing can, as shown in FIG. 1. The refillable dispensing can 104 shown in FIG. 1 serves to release the agent and has a deformable bag 160 inside it for containing the agent. The bag 160 can be manufactured, for example, from plastic or metal foil. The bag 160 is fluid-tightly coupled at its lower surface to a refill valve 162. The refill valve 162 can be liquid-tightly attached to the receiving device 102, thereby fluidly linking to the refill station 100 and allowing the bag 160 to be filled or refilled with the agent from the agent container 114. In addition to this, the bag 160 is coupled at its upper surface to a discharge valve 164 for injecting the agent from the bag 160 as defined by the user. The operation nozzle 121 can be attached to the discharge valve 164, and operating the operation nozzle 121 opens the discharge valve 164, thereby discharging the agent from the bag 160 in the form of a spray.

[0065] Furthermore, the dispensing can 104 of FIG. 1 has a rigid can housing 166 that houses the bag 160, with a refill valve 162 and a discharge valve 164 exposed on the lower or upper surface thereof. In other words, the discharge valve 164 protrudes from the rigid can housing 166 on the head side, and the refill valve 162 protrudes from the bottom side. The can housing 166 may be, for example, a rigid metal housing. The compressed gas may be fluid-tightly enclosed in an intermediate volume portion 168 between the bag 160 and the can housing 166 and may be protected from leaking out of the dispensing can 104. Thus, it is impossible for the compressed gas to leak through the refill valve 162 and / or the discharge valve 164. That is, when the active substance is ejected through the discharge valve 164, the active substance is not mixed with the compressed gas. This is because the compressed gas remains in the intermediate volume portion 168, that is, inside the dispensing can 104. Thereby, in the dispensing can 104 shown in FIG. 1, it is not necessary to refill the compressed gas. Filling the intermediate volume portion 168 with compressed gas can be performed on the factory side, for example, through one of the valves 162, 164 and / or through another valve (not shown) of the can housing 166.

[0066] FIG. 2 shows a flowchart 200 representing a method of operating a refill station 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0067] The method of operating the refill station 100 starts at block 202 indicating that the refill station 100 is ready for the implementation of this method. This can be displayed on the display device 118.

[0068] At block 204, it is checked whether the weight of the dispensing can 104 to be refilled, detected by the scale 126, is stable within a predetermined range.

[0069] If that is the case, at block 206, the dispenser can 108 is read by the transponder reader 106. Further, the transponder reader 106 can read the active substance container transponder 112.

[0070] At block 208, it is determined whether the active substance or medium to be filled into the dispenser can 104 is acceptable. If that is not the case, the method assumes that it is the wrong dispenser can 104. See block 210. This can be displayed on the display device 118.

[0071] If the above is the case, at block 212, the remaining amount of the active substance in the dispenser can 104 to be refilled is determined. Then the pump 113 is switched on to deliver the active substance for replenishing the dispenser can 104 (block 214).

[0072] After replenishing the dispenser can 104 with the filling substance, it can be determined (e.g., by the scale 126) whether the amount of the active substance refilled into the dispenser can 104 is appropriate. See block 216. If that is not the case, the method repeats the procedures of block 214 and block 216.

[0073] If the above is the case, the method determines the filling amount with the active substance at block 218 and sums up the total filling amount. At block 220, this can be displayed to the user on the display device 118.

[0074] And at optional block 222, the pump 115 or the compressor is switched on to fill the dispenser can 104 with compressed gas.

[0075] At block 224, it is checked whether the pressure in the refilled dispenser can 104 is appropriate. If that is not the case, the procedures of block 222 and block 224 are checked.

[0076] Conversely, if the above applies, the operating method ends. Refer to 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.

[0077] In addition to the above-described filling progress procedure, it is possible to detect whether the dispensing can 104 is correctly mounted on the receiving device 102 using a pressure pulse before filling. Further, after filling, data transmission to a communicatively linked node is possible. It is also possible to detect whether the agent container 114 (e.g., a drum or a canister) is empty. This is possible, for example, by monitoring the weight change of such an agent container 114 when filling the dispensing can 104.

[0078] FIG. 3 shows a system having a plurality of refilling mechanisms 116 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention communicatively linked to an additional order device 123.

[0079] In the system of FIG. 3, a plurality of refilling mechanisms 116 having the components described above are communicatively linked to a node 121 (e.g., a gateway). The node 121 is linked to the additional order device 123 via a communication network 117. When the control device 110 and / or the scale 126 of the refilling mechanism 116 recognizes that the agent container 114 (e.g., due to the remaining filling amount of the agent container 114 containing the agent being below a predetermined threshold) will soon be empty, that information can be transmitted to the additional order device 123 via the node 121 and the communication network 117, thereby releasing an additional order for a new agent container 114 containing the agent.

[0080] In FIG. 3, consumption data related to the active substance can be transmitted, for example, to a Kanban system. The data to be transmitted can include the identifier of each refilling mechanism 116, the identifier of the dispensing can 104, the date and time, as well as the active substance, and the amount of the active substance consumed and / or additionally ordered. As shown, the node 121 can function as a gateway common to a plurality of refilling mechanisms 116. Software and in particular firmware can be installed in the refilling mechanism 116, the node 121, and / or the additional order device 123.

[0081] FIG. 4 shows the material flow in a refilling mechanism 116 having a refilling station 100, an active substance container 114, and a dispensing can 104, based on an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0082] The active substance can be transferred from the active substance container 114 through the supply device 120 of the refilling station 100 and from there to the dispensing can 104 assembled to the receiving device 102 after the cover 135 is opened upward. 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 dispensing can 104 assembled to the receiving device 102. When the dispensing can 104 is a BoV dispensing can, refilling with compressed gas is not required.

[0083] FIG. 5 shows the receiving device 102 of the refilling station 100 based on an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0084] FIG. 6 shows the bottom surface of the dispensing can 104 to be assembled to the receiving device 102 of the refilling mechanism 116 based on an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0085] The receiving device 102 is formed with a coding plate 129 for receiving the bottom surface area 133 of the dispensing can 104. The coding plate 129 is mechanically complementary to the bottom surface area 133 (see FIG. 6) of the dispensing can 104. The coding plate 129 can be exposed by opening upward the flap or cover 135 shown in FIG. 4. A fluid connection portion 137 is shown in the central region of the coding plate 129, which can be fluidly linked to the refill valve 162 of the dispensing can 104, so that the active substance and / or compressed gas can be refilled into the dispensing can 104 through the refill valve 162 by means of this fluid connection portion 137.

[0086] After the dispensing can 104 is assembled to the coding plate 129, a locking device for locking the dispensing can 104 with the coding plate 129 can be operated to prevent the dispensing can 104 from unintentionally coming off the receiving device 102 during the refill process. After the completion of the refill process, the dispensing can 104 can be unlocked and removed from the receiving device 102.

[0087] FIG. 7 shows the back surface of the refill station 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 7 shows each area of the supply devices 120, 122.

[0088] FIG. 8 shows a mechanism for refilling the dispensing can 104 with the refill mechanism 116 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The above mechanism includes a piston and a cylinder of a pre-determined size, whereby an appropriate pressure can define the filling amount to be metered.

[0089] FIG. 9 shows the scale 126 of the refill station 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0090] Strictly speaking, FIG. 9 shows a refilling mechanism 116 having a refilling station 100 and a dispensing can 104 attached to a receiving device 102 of the refilling station 100. The dispensing can 104 can be mounted on the receiving device 102 and is locked in place when so mounted. An active material container (see reference numeral 114 in FIG. 1 or FIG. 4), not shown in FIG. 9, can supply the active material, and / or a gas reservoir (see reference numeral 124 in FIG. 1), not shown in FIG. 9, can supply compressed gas to the dispensing can 104 via a supply device 120 or 122 and via the receiving device 102. After the refilling process is completed, the user can operate an unlock button 188, whereby the dispensing can 104 is unlocked from the receiving device 102. Alternatively, unlocking of the dispensing can 104 from the receiving device 102 may be caused by simply applying a tensile force to the dispensing can 104 received in the receiving device 102. The supply device 120 or 122 functions as an active material pipe or a compressed gas pipe and may be connected to a pump (not shown in FIG. 9) (this pump can exert a pressure of, for example, up to 2 bar or even up to 6 bar to supply a medium under pressure to the dispensing can 104).

[0091] The scale 126 can detect weight information related to the dispensing can 104 in the receiving device 102 within the framework of the refilling operation of the refilling mechanism 116 for refilling the dispensing can 104 with an active material (and optionally additionally compressed gas). Since the scale 126 in FIG. 9 is attached to the receiving device 102 and further has the dispensing can 104 to be refilled assembled thereto, the scale 126 determines the mass or weight including the individual weights of the empty dispensing can 104, the possible partial or full filling of the dispensing can 104 with the active material and / or compressed gas, and the receiving device 102.

[0092] Scale 126 preferably serves to detect weight information related to the dispensing can 104 in the receiving device 102 before and during the refilling process. The control device 110 of the refilling station 100 is configured to control the refilling of the dispensing can 104 with the active substance based on the aforementioned detected weight information. In FIG. 9, the scale 126 is arranged below the receiving device 102. The dispensing can 104 can be mounted by the user from above into the receiving device 102 for refilling with the active substance and / or compressed gas and arranged to stand upright when received in the receiving device 102, i.e., such that the operating nozzle 121 faces upward.

[0093] In FIG. 9, the scale 126 is configured as a robust scale with a mechanically simple design. It is clear that the mechanical link between the scale 126 and the dish-shaped receiving device 102 can be called an upper pan - rod - structure. At this time, the rod-shaped scale 126 has a safety mechanism 142 configured to protect against overloading of the scale 126. The aforementioned safety mechanism 142 includes a double-plate spring 144 attached to one end of the scale beam 146 of the scale 126. The aforementioned end faces the other end of the scale beam 146, and this other end is force-coupled to the receiving device 102 and - when received in the receiving device 102 - to the dispensing can 104. The aforementioned safety mechanism 142 acts such that the scale 126 is protected when an excessively high weight is applied.

[0094] The receiving device 102 preferably has a receiving side 160 for removably receiving the dispensing can 104 and a weighing side 162 facing the receiving side 160. A scale 126 and a supply connection part 168 for supplying an active substance or a compressed gas to the dispensing can 104 to be received at the receiving side 160 are attached to the weighing side 162. The spatial separation of the dispensing can assembly part from the medium supply part and from the weighing determination part protects the scale 126 and the supply connection part 168 against mechanical loads associated with the attachment and removal of the receiving device 102 by the user of the dispensing can 104 to be refilled. As a particularly simple measure in terms of design that leads to an error-robust refilling station 100, the receiving device 102 can be equipped with a rigid projection 164 (preferably an annular projection) on the weighing side 162, to which the scale 126 is attached. At the same time, a notch 166 is delimited inside the projection 164, through which the supply connection part 168 is inserted.

[0095] In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the control device 110 determines, if present, the remaining filling amount of the dispensing can 104 based on the weight information determined by the scale 126 before the refilling process, and is configured to control the refilling process based on this weight information. By checking the remaining filling amount of the dispensing can 104 with the active substance and / or the compressed gas before refilling, it is possible to avoid not only an undesired underfilling of the dispensing can 104 during refilling, but also a dangerous overfilling. That is, by the weight-based control of the refilling process of the dispensing can 104, on the one hand, it is possible to avoid the refilling process from ending before the dispensing can 104 is substantially completely filled with the active substance and / or the compressed gas. This enhances the comfort of the user. This is because the overly frequent refilling of the dispensing can 104 thereby becomes unnecessary. At the same time, by the weight-based control of the refilling process, it is possible to avoid the dispensing can 104 from being overfilled with the active substance and / or the compressed gas, which may lead to an excessive internal pressure of the dispensing can 104 and, in an inconvenient situation, may further lead to the risk of explosion and / or the leakage of aggressive chemicals from the dispensing can 104. Thus, preventing the overfilling of the dispensing can 104 brings high operating safety for the user and protects the user against chemicals of the active substance that may endanger health in some cases.

[0096] The control device 110 may preferably be configured to continuously determine the weight information by the scale 126 during the refill process and then continuously control, adapt, or adjust the refill process based on this weight information. In particular, the control unit 110 may be configured to control the refill process based on the weight difference determination of the dispensing can 104 performed by the scale 126 before, during, and / or at the end of the refill process. At this time, it has been found to be particularly preferable that the scale 126 provides weight information serving as an index for the total weight of the dispensing can 104, the remaining filling amount of the active substance in the dispensing can 104, and the receiving device 102 carrying the dispensing can 104 before the refill process and during the refill process. And the refill process can be accurately executed by the control device 110 based on these information. In particular, the control device 110 may be configured to determine the remaining amount of the active substance in the dispensing can 104 before the refill process based on the detection of the weight information by the scale 126 and then control the subsequent refill process accordingly.

[0097] In order to read the dispensing can-related data of the dispensing can transponder 108 configured as an RFID tag attached to the dispensing can 104, it is also particularly preferable to attach a transponder reader 106 configured as an RFID reader to the receiving device 102. When the dispensing can 104 is attached to the receiving device 102 for refill, the dispensing can transponder 108 can enter the readable interval of the transponder reader 106, whereby the transponder reader 106 can read the dispensing can-related data from the dispensing can transponder 108. Such dispensing can-related data can represent, for example, the empty weight of the dispensing can 104, the active substance to be filled in the dispensing can 104, and / or the maximum filling amount of the dispensing can 104.

[0098] When controlling the refilling of the dispensing can 104 with the active substance and / or the compressed gas, the control device 110 can preferably take into account the read dispensing can-related data for characterizing the dispensing can 104. The control device 110 can have, for example, a processor (e.g., a CPU, central processing unit) that performs both the control of the scale 126 and the progress control of the refilling process. In addition to this, the control device 110 can further perform another function, in particular, control the pump for supplying the medium to the dispensing can 104 via the supply devices 120, 122, control the communication via a communication network 117 such as the Internet described in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3, and / or control the display device 118 (see FIG. 1).

[0099] In the following, as an example, it will be described how a refilling process for refilling the dispensing can 104 with an initially unknown remaining filling amount can be carried out, preferably in combination with the read dispensing can-related data, based on the measurement data of the scale 126.

[0100] When a user assembles a dispensing can 104 containing an unknown residual filling amount of a substance and / or a compressed gas onto a receiving device 102, a scale 126 can detect the total weight consisting of the empty weight of the dispensing can 104, the weight of its residual filling amount, and the weight of the receiving device 102. The empty weight of the dispensing can 104 may be known, for example, or can be read from a dispensing can transponder 108 as dispensing can-related data. The weight of the receiving device 102 may be known, or can be determined by the scale 126, for example, without placing the dispensing can 104 during calibration. Based on this information, it is possible to determine the residual filling amount of the dispensing can 104 by forming a difference between the detected total weight on the one hand and the empty weights of the receiving device 102 and the dispensing can 104 on the other hand. The target filling amount of the dispensing can 104 in a fully filled state may be predetermined or can be read from a dispensing can transponder 108 as dispensing can-related data. By determining the difference between the target filling amount and the residual filling amount, it is possible to determine how much filling amount should be filled into the dispensing can 104 to avoid underfilling or overfilling the dispensing can 104. And this filling amount can be filled into the dispensing can 104 under the control of a control device 110. As an alternative, during the execution of the refilling, the total weight is continuously or periodically measured by the scale 126, and by forming a difference between the latest partial filling amount (i.e., the continuously increasing residual filling amount) and the target filling amount, it is also possible to ensure the complete filling of the dispensing can 104 by determining how long the filling process should continue. When the difference between the latest filling amount and the target filling amount becomes equal to zero, the dispensing can 104 is fully refilled and the refilling process can be terminated.

[0101] FIG. 10 shows the scale 126 of the refilling station 100 based on another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0102] The embodiment of FIG. 10 differs from the embodiment of FIG. 9 particularly in that in FIG. 10, the scale 126 is arranged above the receiving device 102. In FIG. 10, the dispensing can 104 is arranged upside down when received in the receiving device 102, i.e., it is mounted on the receiving device 102 so as to be suspended downward. The operation nozzle 121 of the dispensing can 104 faces downward. In other words, the orientation of the dispensing can 104 in FIG. 10 in the configuration attached to the receiving device 102 is rotated 180° with respect to the orientation in FIG. 9.

[0103] As an additional note, "having" does not exclude other members or steps, and the indefinite articles "eine" and "ein" do not exclude a plurality. Further note that the constituent elements or steps described by referring to one of the above embodiments can also be applied in combination with other constituent elements or steps of the other embodiments described above. The reference signs in the claims should not be regarded as limiting.

Claims

1. A receiving device for receiving a dispensing can to be refilled with an active substance, a scale for detecting weight information related to the dispensing can in the receiving device before and / or during the refilling process, a control device configured to control the refilling of the dispensing can with the active substance based on the detected weight information, comprising: The receiving device has a receiving side for receiving the dispensing can and a weighing side facing the receiving side. On this weighing side, the scale and a supply connection for supplying the active substance and / or compressed gas to the dispensing can to be received on the receiving side are attached, a refilling station.

2. The refilling station according to claim 1, wherein the scale is arranged below the receiving device, and the dispensing can is arranged upright when received in the receiving device.

3. The refilling station according to claim 1, wherein the scale is arranged above the receiving device, and the dispensing can is arranged upside down when received in the receiving device.

4. The refilling station according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the scale is a balance.

5. The refilling station according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the scale has a safety mechanism that provides protection against overloading of the scale.

6. The refilling station according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control device is configured to determine the weight information by the scale during the refilling process and then continue the refilling process based on the weight information.

7. having a transponder reader for reading dispensing can-related data of a dispensing can transponder assigned to the dispensing can, The refilling station according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control device is configured to control the refilling of the dispensing can with the active substance based on the read dispensing can-related data.

8. The refilling station according to claim 7, wherein the transponder reader is configured to read dispensing can-related data that indicates the empty weight of the dispensing can, the active substance to be filled in the dispensing can, and / or the maximum filling amount of the dispensing can.

9. The receiving device has a protrusion on the weighing side, the scale is attached to this protrusion, the protrusion delimits a notch, and the supply connection part is inserted through this notch. The refilling station according to claim 1.

10. A refilling station according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and the dispensing can that can be attached to or is attached to the receiving device, and the scale can detect the weight information related to the dispensing can in the receiving device when the dispensing can is attached to the receiving device. A refilling mechanism.

11. The refilling mechanism according to claim 10, having an active substance container that contains the active substance and is linked or linkable to the receiving device to provide the active substance for refilling the dispensing can.

12. The refilling mechanism according to claim 10, having a gas reservoir that is configured to provide the compressed gas and is linked or linkable to the receiving device to provide the compressed gas for refilling the dispensing can.

13. A dispensing can to be refilled with an active substance is received in a receiving device of a refilling station, weight information related to the dispensing can in the receiving device is detected by a scale before and / or during the refilling process, and refilling of the dispensing can with the active substance is controlled based on the detected weight information, characterized in that the receiving device has a receiving side for receiving the dispensing can and a weighing side facing the receiving side, and a scale and a supply connection part for supplying the active substance and / or compressed gas to the dispensing can to be received on the receiving side are attached to this weighing side. A method of operating a refilling station.

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