EP4323125A1

EP4323125A1 - Dosing device, container, product dispenser, and system

Info

Publication number: EP4323125A1
Application number: EP22723338.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Maxim Andreev; Ferdinand Yussupov
Original assignee: Liqix Technologies GmbH
Current assignee: Liqix Technologies GmbH
Priority date: 2021-04-12
Filing date: 2022-04-08
Publication date: 2024-02-21
Also published as: BR112023021339A2; DE112022002096A5; MX2023011949A; WO2022218473A1; US20240189848A1

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a dosing pump for integration into a container. The dosing pump comprises a pump housing with a pumping chamber and further comprises a pump inlet and a pump outlet. The pumping chamber is delimited by a pumping chamber base and an elastically deformable pumping dome. The pump housing is formed by joining at least a first pump housing piece and a second pump housing piece. The pumping dome is part of the first pump housing piece, and the pumping chamber base is part of the second pump housing piece. The disclosure further relates to a container comprising a dosing pump and to an associated product dispenser.

Description

Dosing device, container, product dispenser and system

The present invention relates to a dosing device for liquid and free-flowing products, a container with an integrated dosing device, and a product dispenser that can be equipped with a container of the aforementioned type. The present invention further relates to a system comprising a product dispenser and at least one corresponding container.

Liquid and free-flowing products or substances and substance mixtures include, in particular, low to high-viscosity liquids or liquid mixtures and viscoelastic materials. As part of a non-exhaustive list, in addition to solutions, emulsions and suspensions or dispersions should also be mentioned in particular. The products mentioned can be, for example, liquids, gels, creams, ointments or lotions for body care and/or cleaning, pharmaceuticals, technical liquids, oils and fats or the like.

For storage, transport, sale and use, liquid or free-flowing products are usually kept in a container/container or sales or transport packaging. In this context, a large number of different types of containers or packaging have been developed in the past. Bottles, cans, tubes, canisters, containers and composite cartons, etc., are only mentioned here as examples.

If more precise dosing of the liquid or free-flowing product is necessary or desired, the aforementioned containers can often be provided with a screw-on pump lid with a lifting pump, a pipette or another dosing device.

Commercially available bottles with dosing devices often consist of a large number of components which have to be assembled at great expense and because of the different materials used (for example components made of different plastics together with components made of metal, such as springs etc.) are difficult and in particular not completely recyclable.

Over the entire product life cycle, this leads to high material and energy consumption as well as high CO2 emissions.

Foil bags are considered one of the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly packaging for liquid and flowable products today. Foil bags are basically for many Known for years, but were rather unpopular because of their poor handling and high sensitivity to mechanical damage.

In the meantime, foil bags, for example as stand-up bags, spout bags, flat bags and gusseted bags, are experiencing a certain popularity again.

However, a disadvantage of foil bags, in particular of foil bags with a tear-off edge, is the lack of resealability. In addition to the obvious disadvantage that such already opened foil bags are difficult to transport, the contents of the opened foil bag are also exposed to an increased risk of e.g. hygienically unsafe contamination and microbial infestation as well as faster oxidation.

Foil bags with a welded-in, resealable spout, also known as a spout, at least partially alleviate the problem described. However, they also lack reproducible dosing, which severely limits the application possibilities of the foil bags.

Previously known dosing pumps overcome this disadvantage, but consist of a large number of components and therefore cannot be used economically for packaging cheap mass-produced products.

One of the problems to be solved by the invention is therefore to provide a dosing device for liquid and free-flowing products that is improved in particular in the points mentioned, which is low in complexity, simple and efficient to manufacture with little use of materials, and good recyclability. In addition, the invention is also based on the object of offering a container, an associated product dispenser and a system made up of container and product dispenser.

A dosing pump with the features of patent claim 1, a container with the features of patent claim 13, a product dispenser with the features of claim 14 and a system with the features of claim 15 are proposed to solve the above-mentioned tasks.

It is pointed out that the features listed individually in the claims can be combined with one another in any technically meaningful way and show further refinements of the invention. The description additionally characterizes and specifies the invention, in particular in connection with the figures. The features described in connection with the dosing device according to the invention can also be used advantageous configurations of the container or the system according to the invention and vice versa.

It should also be pointed out that a conjunction “and/or” used here, standing between two features and linking them to one another, must always be interpreted in such a way that in a first embodiment only the first feature can be present, in a second embodiment only the second Feature may be present and in a third embodiment, both the first and the second feature may be present.

As mentioned, the present disclosure relates to a dosing device, henceforth also referred to as a dosing pump, for integration into a container.

The metering pump includes a pump housing with a pumping chamber. The pump housing also has a pump inlet and a pump outlet. The pump chamber is delimited by a pump chamber floor and an elastically deformable pump dome.

If the elastically deformable pump dome is pressed in when the metering pump is actuated while the fluid connection from the pump inlet to the pump chamber is closed, then fluid is pumped from the pump chamber to the pump outlet or out of the pump outlet due to the volume reduction in the pump chamber. The fluid connection can be closed, for example, by the pump inlet being covered by a container wall (or film) lying against the dosing pump when the pump dome is pressed in. Alternatively or additionally, a non-return valve, often also referred to as a non-return valve, can be provided in the fluid connection between the pump inlet and the pump chamber.

As soon as the pump dome then returns elastically to its original state, the pump chamber fills up again with fluid that continues to flow from the direction of the pump inlet or is sucked in there.

The pump chamber base can be rigid, ie inflexible, or flexible in some embodiments. The pump housing is advantageously designed with thin walls. A pump housing is considered “thin-walled” if the majority (>50%) of the surface, especially in areas with a homogeneous wall thickness, has a material thickness of less than 3 mm, in particular less than 1.5 mm, preferably less than 0.8 mm having.

The pump housing can be assembled from a first pump housing section and a second pump housing section. The pump dome is then part of the first Pump housing section and the pump chamber floor is part of the second pump housing section.

A metering pump as described above can be manufactured particularly easily and efficiently in a few steps. The material requirement is very low. In addition to the price, this also reduces energy consumption, C02 emissions and plastic waste compared to other packaging solutions with more complex dosing devices.

The dosing pump according to the invention enables economical packaging of fluid mass products and thus expands the possible uses of thin-walled containers, in particular foil bags. The film bag with the integrated dosing pump according to the invention can replace the commercially available bottles with dosing devices in various branches of fluid-like products as a cheaper and more ecological alternative. A dosing pump integrated into the container is also particularly advantageous from a hygienic point of view.

Further advantageous configurations of metering pumps according to the invention result from the features specified in the dependent claims and from the features described below. It should be emphasized at this point that the features described below can easily also be advantageous design features of a container, product dispenser according to the invention or the resulting system. In order to avoid repetition, the features in question will be described below as a rule only in relation to the metering pump according to the invention.

The first pump housing section and the second pump housing section are preferably designed together as an integral component and connected by means of a film hinge. Advantageously, the integral component does not have any undercuts in a defined demolding direction, starting from the parting plane of the injection molds. On the one hand, this aspect simplifies the manufacturing process and the necessary tools considerably. On the other hand, the handling of the semi-finished products is also simplified, since the integral component only has to be folded over on the film hinge. The relative positioning of the first pump housing section and the second pump housing section is also facilitated in this way. At the same time, the number of parts to be handled is reduced.

The first pump housing section and the second pump housing section can have or consist of a thermoplastic material and be welded in a joint area. Laser transmission welding or ultrasonic welding, for example, is particularly suitable for this purpose. Thermoplastics are readily and cheaply available, can be recycled very easily and have material properties that are very suitable for the application.

The dosing pump can thus be produced entirely from a flexible plastic material using the plastic injection molding process, vacuum pressing process, thermoforming process or other suitable process.

In some embodiment variants, the first pump housing section and the second pump housing section have alignment geometries that are congruent to one another. For example, they can include centering pins or cones and corresponding holes or a circumferential groove and a corresponding tongue. This simplifies precise alignment of the pump housing sections.

According to an advantageous aspect, the metering pump has an outlet valve. The outlet valve is arranged in a fluid connection from the pump chamber to the pump outlet and is designed as a backflow preventer. On the one hand, a non-return valve between the pump chamber and the pump outlet supports the efficiency of the pump. On the other hand, the suction of ambient air into the fluid connection or the pump chamber is also avoided. This is advantageous from a hygienic point of view and can extend the shelf life of a product to be conveyed with the dosing pump.

The outlet valve can have a closure part with a convex sealing surface and a sealing seat corresponding to the closure part. The closure part can preferably be an integral part of the first or the second pump housing section and the sealing seat accordingly an integral part of the other pump housing section, ie the second or the first pump housing section. Surprisingly, it turned out that this type of valve is particularly suitable for the present application.

The closure part of the outlet valve can preferably comprise a sealing bead running around the convex sealing surface. Optionally, the sealing seat of the outlet valve can also have an annular web that corresponds to the sealing bead. When the outlet valve is closed, the web in the sealing bead rests on the closure part at least on one side and preferably on both sides.

Furthermore, the outlet valve can have a bead running around the outlet valve opening on the outside and an outlet ring channel arranged outside of the bead. As soon as the pump dome moves back to its original position after it has been pushed in, the chamber volume increases and a negative pressure is generated in this way Suppress the foil of a foil bag surrounding the dosing pump and thus close the pump outlet.

The dosing pump can have a further backflow preventer in the fluid connection from the pump chamber to the pump outlet. The further backflow preventer can in particular be an additional check valve connected in series with the outlet valve in fluidic communication. The reliability of the seal is increased by several sealing levels one behind the other. This reduces the risk of fluid escaping from the dosing pump or container or air entering the container. The additional non-return valve can be a second outlet valve. The second outlet valve can then have a structure comparable to that of the first outlet valve.

In at least some embodiment variants, the pump dome can have a so-called decompression crown. The decompression crown comprises a plurality of decompression teeth, which are designed in such a way and are arranged at a distance from one another in a ring around the pump inlet such that two decompression teeth lying next to one another each form a decompression channel between them. Decompression teeth are elevations/protuberances on the outer surface of the pump dome, which have such a height and such small radii that gaps are formed between the pump dome and the container wall/foil surrounding the metering pump. A pressure equalization can take place at any time via the decompression channels, even when the foil/wall of the surrounding container/foil bag nestles directly against the pump dome.

According to a further advantageous aspect, the pump dome can have at least one peripheral and preferably a plurality of concentrically arranged spring beads. The spring beads can have a lower material thickness than the rest of the pump dome. The spring beads improve the tactile/haptic sinking behavior of the pump dome.

In some implementations, the pump dome may have a plurality of decompression teeth. The decompression teeth can be arranged regularly spaced from each other on the pump dome. In other words, the surface of the pump dome can be designed with nubs, for example.

The pump inlet can be arranged centrally in the pump dome. In these variants, the pump inlet is covered by the container wall/foil that is pressed on when the pump dome is pressed in. A separate inlet valve as a non-return valve can then be omitted. Alternatively, the pump inlet can be located outside of the pumping chamber. The metering pump then includes an inlet valve which is arranged in a fluid connection from the pump inlet to the pump chamber and is designed as a backflow preventer.

The non-return valve in the fluid connection between the pump inlet and the pump chamber ensures that the liquid or free-flowing product is conveyed in the right direction.

Furthermore, the pump chamber floor can have one or more reinforcement beads in order to increase the rigidity.

According to a further advantageous aspect, the pump housing can have one or more grooves which are set up and arranged to form a fluid connection between the pump inlet and the pump chamber and/or between the pump chamber and the pump outlet at least in sections. In the area (on both sides) of the groove, the container wall/foil can be attached to the pump housing, in particular welded. The container wall/foil then forms the missing wall of the fluid channel.

In addition, the pump housing can have at least one fastening area for entering into a snap connection. The fastening area can have a latching tab, a latching lug and/or an edge for gripping behind and preferably another edge for positioning.

According to a further advantageous aspect, the pump housing can have at least one bacteriostatic, bactericidal or fungicidal element, which is preferably arranged in a fluid connection from the pump chamber to the pump outlet.

In some design variants, the dosing pump can have a leak-proof device. The leakage protection is then set up to seal a fluid connection between the pump chamber and the pump outlet. The leak guard is designed to be removed, loosened, or mechanically destroyed by a user to release fluid communication.

The metering pump described above is intended to be placed in a thin-walled container and welded to the container.

The present disclosure also relates to such a container with an integrated dosing pump.

The container and the dosing pump are preferably made of the same or at least a thermoplastic material of the same type. The containers can be foil bags. Alternatively, the container can also be a thin-walled plastic container in which the wall has a material thickness that is so stiff that it is no longer commonly understood as a film (for example from a wall thickness of approx. 0.3 mm), but at least includes locally limited flexible areas. The flexible areas can be provided, for example, by means of joint beads with a reduced wall thickness.

According to a further advantageous aspect, the container is suitable for dosing fluid products from areas such as perfumery, cosmetics, pharmacy, hygiene, personal care, home care, food (in particular beverages and dairy products), dietary supplements, technology and other areas.

The containers can, provided they are film bags, side-sealed bags, doypacks, flowpacks, flat bags, tubular bags with a Euro hole, chain bags, contour bags, gusseted bags, bag-in-box bags, easy packs, block-bottom bags and other types of film bags. Alternatively, the containers can also be made of thin-walled plastic, which, however, is too stable to qualify as foil. Containers of this type then have elastic areas, for example due to articulated beads.

Also proposed is a product dispenser for accommodating a container with a dosing pump as described above, the product dispenser having holding means for fastening the container and a flexibly mounted pressure bolt for manual actuation of the dosing pump and/or an actuator seat for accommodating a motor-operated actuator for automatic actuation of the Has dosing pump. With such a product dispenser, properties of a film bag that tend to have negative connotations, in particular the comparatively low intrinsic stability, can be compensated for.

A corresponding system comprises a product dispenser and a container with a dosing pump, as previously described. Optionally, the system can also have a motor-driven actuator for automatically actuating the dosing pump in the container. The actuator can easily be integrated into the product dispenser.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention which are not to be understood as limiting and which are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. In these drawings show schematically: FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C a metering pump according to a first embodiment, in the unassembled open state, in the assembled closed state from above and in the assembled closed state from below;

FIGS. 2A, 2B a film bag according to a first embodiment with the dosing pump from FIGS. 1A to 1C, front and back;

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C the metering pump of FIGS. 1A through 1C in the foil pouch of FIGS. 2A, 2B, in an unactuated state, in the actuated state and in the state after the actuation;

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C a metering pump according to a second embodiment, in the unassembled open state, in the assembled closed state from above and in the assembled closed state from below;

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C a film bag according to a second embodiment with the dosing pump from FIGS. 4A to 4C, side, front and back views;

6 shows a product dispenser according to a first embodiment with a film bag according to a third embodiment;

FIGS. 7A, 7B the product dispenser from FIG. 6, in a sectional view, once with an installed actuator for automatic operation and once without an actuator for manual operation;

FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C a metering pump according to a fourth embodiment, in the unassembled open state and in the assembled closed state from above and in the assembled closed state from below,

FIGS. 9A, 9B a film bag according to a fourth embodiment with the dosing pump from FIGS. 8A to 8C, from the front and from behind,

FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C the metering pump of FIGS. 8A through 8C in the foil pouch of FIGS. 9A, 9B, in an unactuated state, in the actuated state and in the state after the actuation;

FIGS. 11A, 11B a product dispenser according to a second embodiment with a film bag from FIGS. 9A to 10C;

FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C a dosing pump according to a fifth exemplary embodiment, in a plan view and sectional views in the non-actuated and actuated state;

FIG. 13 shows a further embodiment of a dosing pump;

FIGS. 14A, 14B a metering pump with an antibacterial insert;

FIGS. 15A, 15B, a metering pump with a leak guard;

FIGS. 16A, 16B another dosing pump with a leak guard; and FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C a thin-walled container with another dosing pump. To avoid unnecessary repetition, parts that are the same or have the same effect - even across different exemplary embodiments - are provided with the same reference symbols and are described once, insofar as their function and effect are not already clearly evident from the above description in conjunction with the pictorial representation. The differences between the exemplary embodiments are therefore particularly emphasized in the following.

FIG. 1 shows a metering pump 1, with FIG. 1A showing this in the open, unassembled state. All elements of the metering pump 1 are designed and arranged without undercuts in such a way that the metering pump can be produced in one piece (as an integral part) in a two-part plastic injection mold. The metering pump 1 comprises the lower part 2 (also referred to as the second pump housing section) and the upper part 3 (also referred to as the first pump housing section), which are connected to one another by means of a connecting element 4, a film hinge.

The lower part 2 comprises a pump chamber floor 5, in which the first outlet channel 28 also opens into an outlet channel opening 6, and a valve chamber floor 7, in which two through holes with associated sealing or valve seats 8, 13 are arranged. The valve seat on the outside in the fluid connection can also be referred to as the outlet valve seat 13 . The inner valve seat (on the pump chamber side) is also referred to below as the air valve seat 8 . Grooves 9 border the pump chamber floor 5 and the valve chamber floor 7 in such a way that two separate and closed contours are formed.

The foot 14 of the metering pump 1 to be welded into a container/foil bag 100 is arranged in a front area of the lower part 2 . This includes on its outer wall the dispensing console 15, which represents a kind of extension or spout, and the dispensing opening 16, from which the fluid product is dispensed.

The upper part 3 of the metering pump 1 shown comprises the pump diaphragm 17 (also referred to here as the pump dome), in which a filling opening 18 (also referred to as the pump inlet) is arranged in the center. In addition, the upper part 3, in a position corresponding to the valve chamber floor 7 in the lower part 2, comprises the valve chamber cover 19, in which an air valve 20 mounted in an air valve membrane 21 (or more specifically: a closure part 20 of a second outlet valve 35) and an air valve mounted in an outlet valve membrane Outlet valve 22 (in other words, a closure part 22 of a first outlet valve 34) is formed. The spring 10 surrounds the pump membrane 17 and the valve chamber cover 19 in such a way so that two separate closed contours repeating the contours of the groove 9 of the lower part 2 are formed.

1B shows the metering pump 1 in the assembled state, with the upper part 3 being fixed to the lower part 2 by means of the connection of tongue 10 and groove 9 . The air valve 20 is seated in the air valve seat 8 and the outlet valve 22 in the outlet valve seat 13. The integral connection of the groove 9 with the spring 10 is done by means of ultrasonic, laser or heat welding processes or by means of another type of connection such as positive locking. As a result of the connection of the groove 9 with the spring 10, two volumes are created, namely the pumping chamber 11 and the valve chamber 12 (illustrated for example in Figures 3A, 3B and 3C). The outer side of the pump membrane 17 also includes a decompression crown 39 which borders the filling opening 18 (also referred to below as the pump inlet). The decompression crown has flow gaps 25 between the individual decompression teeth 24 spaced apart from one another. Welding areas 26 are also arranged at the edges of the pump membrane 17 , at which these are welded to the upper film 160 of the film bag 100 . At the rear end of the metering pump 1 there is at least one further flow gap 25 in order to allow the unimpeded subsequent flow of the fluid from the main bag volume 162 in the direction of the filling opening 18 .

1C shows the lower side of the metering pump 1. This comprises the first outlet channel 28, which connects the outlet channel opening 6 of the pump chamber 11 with the air valve seat 8 as a fluid connection. The second exhaust passage 29 is connected to the exhaust valve seat 13 at one end and to the discharge port 16 at the other end (see Fig. 3).

Although the dispensing port is shown as a simple drip port, a sponge or brush attachment may be substituted. With this, the liquid or free-flowing product can be applied to surfaces for cleaning or coating purposes.

Alternatively, the dispensing opening 16 can be designed as a spray nozzle 32 . This can be used, for example, to apply the fluid product as a spray onto large surfaces, e.g. as a disinfectant solution or solution for medical or technical applications.

2 shows the dosing pump 1 welded into a film bag 100. Welding areas 126 of the film bag 100 are shown by puncturing. The welding areas 126 of the foil bag correspond to the welding areas of the dosing pump 1. 2A shows the front side of the film bag 100. The dosing pump 1 is welded inside the film bag 100, namely between the upper film 160 and the lower film 161. FIG. The upper film 160 and lower film 161 are connected at the welding areas 126 to the foot 14 of the metering pump 1 to be welded. The dispensing console 15 is arranged outside the foil bag 100 . Island-shaped welding areas 126 are arranged along the circumference of the pump membrane 17 and connect the upper film 160 to the upper part 3 of the metering pump 1 in a punctiform manner. Decompression channels form in the area between the welds.

The rear side of the foil bag 100 is shown in FIG. 2B. It can be seen that the welding areas 126 run along the circumference of the lower part 2, along the circumference of the first outlet channel 28 and the circumference of the second outlet channel 29 and with the welding area 26 of the foot 14 to be welded in and the welding area 126 on the edge of the foil bag 100 are connected. In this way, the first outlet channel 28 and the second outlet channel 29 are separated from the main bag volume 62 . In this case, the lower film 61 assumes the function of the wall of the first outlet channel 28 and of the second outlet channel 29 .

Optionally, the film bag 100 can form a fastening 170 in the welding area 26, as shown. For this purpose, tear lines or perforations are made in the welded area, which divide the welded area into a (meandering) fastening strip 172 . To use the fastener 170, the fastener tape 172 is severed (by hand) along the tear lines 171, thereby forming a loop. This enables the film pouch 100 to be attached to clothing or other objects, for example. The length of the sling depends on the number of turns of the fastening strap.

Furthermore, the film bag 100 can also include holes 131 in the welding areas 126 for hanging in a product dispenser 200 (cf. FIG. 6) or in other mechanical or automatic systems.

3 shows a simplified sectional view with a vertical sectional plane through the metering pump 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3A shows this in the unactuated state, FIG. 3B shows the metering pump 1 during actuation and FIG. 3C shows it one the state after the actuation.

In FIG. 3A it can be seen that the pumping chamber 11 is connected to the main bag volume 162 by means of the filling opening 18 (in fluid communication). The air valve 20 is pressed against the air valve seat 8 by means of the restoring force of the air valve membrane 21 or the air valve membrane 21 trained spring / joint beads pressed. As a result, the valve chamber 12 is isolated from the first outlet channel 28 which is connected to the pumping chamber 11 via the outlet channel opening 6 . Likewise, the outlet valve 22 is pressed against the outlet valve seat 13 by the restoring force of the outlet valve membrane 23 , whereby the valve chamber 12 is isolated from the second outlet port 29 .

In the event of an unintended pressure on the foil bag 100 from the outside, the pressurized fluid product from the main bag volume 162 can enter the valve chamber 12 through the now open air valve 35, after which the pressure inside the valve chamber 12 and the pressure inside the main bag volume 162 is equalized . The closure part 22 of the outlet valve 34 is pressed into the outlet valve seat 13 under the action of the restoring force of the outlet valve membrane 23 and under the action of the pressure in the main bag volume 162, which reliably prevents the fluid product from escaping from the film bag 100.

In order to apply the fluid-form product, the user now presses his finger on the center of the decompression crown 39. This process is shown in FIG. 3B. The upper film 160 is elastically deformed under the finger and thus closes the filling opening 18, whereby the pumping chamber 11 is separated from the main volume 162 of the bag.

As a result of the pressure increase in the pumping chamber 11, due to the further pressing of the pumping membrane 17, the fluid product is pumped out of the pumping chamber 11, through the first outlet channel 28 and through the air valve 35 into the valve chamber 12. This creates a greater pressure in the valve chamber 12 than in the main bag volume 162, which now also lifts the outlet valve membrane 23 upwards and thereby opens the outlet valve 34.

The fluid product now escapes through the second outlet channel 29 and the dispensing opening 16 (also called the pump outlet) and is thus applied. After the end of the application process, as soon as the pressure in the valve chamber 12 is balanced with the pressure of the main bag volume 162, the air valve 35 and the outlet valve 34 close hermetically thanks to the restoring force of the air valve membrane 21 and the outlet valve membrane 23. The fluid product can no longer leave the metering pump 1, and air cannot penetrate into the metering pump 1 any more. This is illustrated in Figure 3C. At the same time, the pump membrane 17 assumes its original shape thanks to its restoring force, as a result of which a negative pressure is created in the pump chamber 11 , which sucks in the next dose of the fluid-like product through the filling opening 18 from the main bag volume 62 . The decompression crown 39 prevents thanks to the Flow gaps 25 prevent the upper foil 160 from adhering to the filling opening 18 during the filling process of the pumping chamber 11.

Furthermore, the decompression crown 39 has the function of protecting the dosing pump 1 from being operated unintentionally, for example if it is in a pocket. In the event that the pump membrane 17 is compressed, the decompression crown 39 prevents an overpressure from building up in the pump chamber 11 since the filling opening 18 can only be closed with a finger or a comparable geometry.

The filling opening 18 is only closed by means of the targeted pressing with the finger or the pressure bolt 201 of a product dispenser 200 on the center of the decompression crown 39 . The decompression crown 39 facilitates the tactile finding of the correct point for activating the metering pump 1 with the finger.

4 and 5 show a second variant of a film bag 100 with a dosing pump 1, specifically for dosing smaller amounts, in particular for applications in the fields of pharmacy or perfumery. A single dose can preferably comprise between 10 ml and 80 ml, more preferably between 20 ml and 60 ml.

Analogously to the first variant, the second variant of the metering pump 1 basically contains the same components, has the same mode of operation and also the same manufacturing method.

The second variant differs primarily in the arrangement, shape and size of the individual components. In addition, it has additional components such as a stiffening frame 90 and a standing floor 91 .

The second embodiment variant of the dosing pump 1 also comprises the lower part 2 and the upper part 3 which are connected to one another by means of the connecting element 4 . The pump chamber floor 5 with the opening 6 of the first outlet channel 28 is formed on the lower part 2 , with the groove 9 bordering the pump chamber floor 5 .

A stiffening frame 90 with a standing floor 91 is arranged at the rear end of the lower part 2 . These allow the container 100 to be easily stored upright.

A valve chamber floor 7 is formed in the front area of the lower part 2 . The valve chamber bottom 7 is shaped as two rings, which are arranged in the left and the right corner of the lower part 2 and are connected by means of a valve chamber bottom channel 7a.

All chambers and fluid connections are surrounded by a groove 9 at their edges. The inside of one ring includes the opening of the air valve seat 9 and the inside of the other Ring encompasses the opening of the outlet valve seat 13. Such an arrangement of the components enables the metering pump 1 to be shortened in length.

Figure 4A illustrates the assembly process. The two integrally injection molded housing halves are folded together and then welded.

The front part of the lower part 2 has a dispensing bracket 15 on which a spray nozzle 32 having a dispensing opening 16 is formed. The upper part 3 in turn includes the pump membrane 17, in which the filling opening 18 is located in the middle. In addition, the upper part 3 includes the valve chamber cover 19 with the air valve membrane 21, the outlet valve membrane and the closure part 20 of the air valve 35 and the closure part 22 of the outlet valve 34. The spring 10 surrounds all compartments, i.e. in particular all chambers and fluid connections. The shape of the tongue 10 is identical to the shape of the groove.

4C shows the dosing pump 1 of the film bag 100 with a bacteriostatic, bactericidal or fungicidal element 92, in particular for pharmaceutical fluids where there is a desire for sterile storage before and after opening the supply in the film bag 100.

The element (an insert) includes a surface which may comprise an alloy of silver, copper and zinc, e.g., between about 1% and 9% copper and about 1% zinc. The element 92 has a good antimicrobial effect.

Fig. 5A shows the dosing pump 1 from Fig. 4 in a foil bag 100 in a side view. Enclosed by the stiffening frame 90 is formed by welding the upper foil 160 to the upper edge of the dosing pump 1 and the lower foil 161 to the lower edge of the dosing pump 1 the main bag volume 162 out. The standing base 91 enables the film bag 100 to stand up. Standing containers are often used, for example, in the perfume industry and in the area of body cleaning and care products.

FIG. 5B shows the same film bag 100 with the dosing pump 1 from the front, and FIG. 5C accordingly from the rear. Welding areas 26/126 are again indicated as a dotted area. On the back (in FIG. 5C) the opening 6 of the first outlet channel 28 can be seen as a through hole. The first outlet channel 28 thus connects the air valve 35 to the pump chamber 11. The first outlet channel 28 is designed as a groove in the pump housing and is welded to the foil of the foil bag all the way round on the free side. The second outlet channel 29, which connects the outlet valve 34 to the dispensing opening 16, is also bordered by a welding area 26 and is thus covered or sealed by the film. sealed. The placement (or length) of the dispensing console 15 and the dispensing direction of the dispensing opening 16 can be adapted to the application.

FIG. 6 shows another film bag 100 with a dosing pump 1 together with an associated product dispenser 200 .

For attachment in a corresponding attachment device 214 of the product dispenser 200, the dosing pump 1 has, in addition to the features already described, at least one attachment area 30 for entering into a snap or latching connection. In the present case, the fastening area 30 comprises two latching tabs, although latching lugs, projections and/or edges for gripping behind can also be provided instead. The arrangement and number of fastening elements depends on the application. In this way, the dosing pump is positioned and held in the product dispenser.

The film bag 100 also has two hanging loops 131, on which the film bag in the product dispenser 200 can also be hung/attached to corresponding hooks 205. Here, too, the position and number must be selected according to the application.

The locking tabs of the fastening area 30 are part of the lower part 2 of the metering pump. When the dosing pump 1 is welded in between the upper film 160 and the lower film 161, continuous cutouts are formed in the two films in the area of the locking tabs. The welding area 126 surrounds the snap-in tabs on both sides, which ensures that the film bag 100 is sealed.

Due to this additional possibility of mechanical connection, the appropriately equipped film bags 100 can be used not only manually, but also in dispenser housings (e.g. hygiene dispensers, soap dispensers) and/or in automatic machines and mechanisms in which the fluid-form product is dosed from a primary packaging. be used. Examples include automatic cleaning technology (washing machines or dishwashers), food dispensers and/or beverage preparation machines.

Fig. 6 also shows the process of attaching a film bag 100 with metering pump 1 in a product dispenser 200.

The product dispenser 200 is intended to hold the film bag 100 and enables the dosing pump 1 to be operated manually from the outside using a finger or the automatic contactless actuation of the dosing pump 1 by means of an automatic actuator 300.

The product dispenser comprises the dispenser housing base 207 and the dispenser housing cover 206, which are connected to one another by means of a film hinge. As a result, the complete product dispenser can be produced in one piece with a (only two-part) plastic injection mold in the open state.

On the inside of the dispenser housing base 207 there are hooks 205 for hanging up the film bag 100 and the lower part of the fastening device 214, into which the metering pump 1 is snapped. The fastening device 214 comprises a dosing pump seat 208 and associated dosing pump clamps 209. The dispenser housing cover 206 comprises wedges 210 corresponding to the dosing pump clamps 209, as well as a membrane-mounted push button 211 with a pressure bolt 201.

The pump housing of the metering pump has at least one fastening area 30 for entering into a snap connection. The fastening area 30 comprises at least one edge for gripping behind, a latching tab and/or latching lug.

The foil bag 100 is fastened in the dispenser housing 204 by hanging the hanging loops 131 on the hooks 205 of the product dispenser 200 and by pushing the dosing pump 1 with the locking tabs of the fastening area 30 onto the dosing pump clamps 209 up to the stop in the dosing pump seat 208.

7A shows the attachment of the metering pump 1 in a sectional view in detail. When the dispenser housing cover 206 is closed, the wedges 210 enter the latching tabs of the fastening area 30 and bend the metering pump clamps 209 in such a way that the metering pump 1 is fixed in the fastening device 214 in a form-fitting manner and essentially also without play. A push button 211 is provided for the manual actuation of the dosing pump 1 fastened in the product dispenser. By pressing the push button 211, the pressure pin 201 pushes in the pump dome 17 and thus activates the dosing pump 1.

The product dispenser 200 can optionally be equipped with an actuator 300 for contactless activation of the dosing pump 1 .

The actuator 300 includes a battery and a servo drive that can move the punch 301 back and forth. Furthermore, the actuator 300 has a sensor 302 for detecting a hand. The sensor 302 can, for example, be a brightness sensor, a light barrier sensor, a distance sensor etc. The actuator 300 is fixed in a holder 208 of the product dispenser 200 . For this purpose, the actuator 300 is positively fixed in the latch 212 of the dispenser housing base 207 .

So that the plunger 301 of the actuator 300 can actuate the dosing pump 1 , the film bag 100 is fixed in the product dispenser 200 in an inverted position, so that the pump dome 17 is on the side of the actuator 300 . The push button 211 for manual operation is therefore inoperative.

In the context of FIGS. 8 to 17, the above should be repeated in other words. However, the underlying ideas and functionalities are the same and apply without further ado to all exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 8A shows a metering pump according to a fourth exemplary embodiment in the unassembled, open state. In FIG. 8B shows the dosing pump in the assembled, closed state from above.

The metering pump includes a pump housing with a pump chamber 11 , a pump inlet 18 and a pump outlet 16 . The pump housing is assembled from a first pump housing section 3 and a second pump housing section 2 . The pump dome 17 is part of the first pump housing section 3 and the pump chamber base 5 is a part of the second pump housing section 2.

All elements of the metering pump 1 are arranged and designed in such a way that the metering pump 1 can be manufactured in one piece by means of plastic injection molding, thermoforming processes or other processes. When the first and second pump housing sections are folded together, the closure part 22 of the outlet valve 34 is positioned in the outlet valve seal seat 13 and the closure part 43 of the inlet valve 33 in the inlet valve 33 seal seat 44 . The tongue 10 and the groove 9 ensure the correct placement of the upper and lower parts 3, 2. The entire construction is very thin-walled and therefore saves material.

The first pump housing section 3 and the second pump housing section 2 together form an integral component and are connected by means of a film hinge 4 . The integral component has no undercuts in a defined demolding direction, so it can be manufactured with a two-part injection mold. In order to assemble the dosing pump 1, the two parts are folded together and welded together in a joint area by means of ultrasound or a thermal process. Alternatively, the connection can be made in a form-fitting manner.

The first pump housing section 3 and the second pump housing section 2 have alignment geometries 9, 10 that are congruent to one another. In addition to correct positioning, groove 9 and spring 10 can also serve to hermetically seal the working chamber and valve chambers. If necessary, the gaps can be sealed with a sealant if the housing parts are not welded.

FIG. 8C shows the dosing pump in the assembled, closed state from below.

The closure part 43 of the inlet valve 33 is elastically mounted on the second pump housing section 2 with a web 46, optionally with several webs. The production-related opening below the closure part 43 is closed by the circumferentially welded lower film 161 of the film bag 100 .

The pump housing also has at least one groove 28 which is set up and arranged to form a fluid connection between the pump chamber 11 and the pump outlet 16 at least in sections.

FIGS. 9A, 9B represent a film bag according to a fourth embodiment with the dosing pump from FIGS. 8A to 8C, from the front and from the rear. The foils can have an optical or haptic marking in order to inform the user about the position of the pump dome 17 and thus to facilitate operation.

The dosing pump 1 is therefore arranged in the film bag 100 and welded to it. It when the container 100 and the metering pump 1 are made of the same or a similar thermoplastic material is particularly advantageous.

FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C show the metering pump of FIGS. 8A through 8C in the foil pouch of FIGS. 9A, 9B, in an unactuated state, in the actuated state and in the state after the actuation.

The metering pump 1 includes an outlet valve 34 which is arranged in a fluid connection from the pump chamber 11 to the pump outlet 16 and is designed as a backflow preventer. The outlet valve 34 has a closure part 22 with a convex sealing surface and a sealing seat 13 corresponding to the closure part 22 . The closure part 22 is an integral part of the first pump housing section 3. It can however, also be part of the second pump housing section 2 . The corresponding seal seat 13 is an integral part of the other pump housing section 3, 2.

The pump inlet 18 is located outside of the pumping chamber 11 . The metering pump 1 includes an inlet valve 33 which is arranged in a fluid connection from the pump inlet 18 to the pump chamber 11 and is designed as a backflow preventer.

In FIG. 10A shows the unactuated state. The outlet valve 34 is kept closed by the prestressing force of the valve membrane or the spring/sealing bead 23 and the pressure in the container/foil bag 100. After all, the pressurized area on the side of the foil bag/main bag volume 162 is larger than the pressurized area on the side of the valve/valve chamber 12. It can be assumed that the pressure in the pumping chamber 11 in the unactuated state is equal to or lower than the pressure in the main bag volume 162. Furthermore, it can be assumed that the pressure in the valve chamber 12 is equal to or lower than the pressure in the pump chamber 11. The inlet valve 33 ensures pressure equalization in the direction of the pump chamber 11.

The pressure in the valve chamber 12 then becomes greater than the pressure in the main bag volume 162.

It is easy to see that the closure part 22 of the outlet valve 34 has a spring and/or sealing bead 23 running around the convex sealing surface. The sealing seat 13 of the outlet valve 34 additionally has an annular web 45 corresponding to the sealing bead 23 . When the outlet valve 34 is closed, the web rests in the sealing bead 23 on the closure part 22 .

The outlet valve 34 also has an outlet valve opening 36 with a circumferential bead 37 and an annular channel 38 arranged outside of the bead 37 . Together with the lower foil 161, these parts form a further backflow preventer 35 in the fluid connection from the pump chamber 11 to the pump outlet 16.

FIG. 10B shows the actuated state, ie when the pump dome 17 is pushed in. Because of the inlet valve 33, the pressure cannot escape in the direction of the main bag volume, but can only flow out in the direction of the pump outlet 16. Upon actuation, fluid enters the outlet valve chamber. The pressure in the outlet valve chamber becomes greater than in the main chamber volume 162 above it, as a result of which the outlet valve 33 opens and the liquid flows out into the outlet channel.

FIG. 10C shows the state after the pump dome 17 has been crushed. The pump dome 17 returns to its original shape due to the restoring force/elasticity and forms a (slight) negative pressure in the pump chamber 17. The outlet valve bead 37 keeps the system free of air, since the lower film is sucked up to it and the air path during the decline of the liquid blocked. Meanwhile, the exhaust valve 34 closes. The inlet valve 33 opens and admits new fluid into the pumping chamber 17 . The decompression crown 39 serves to ensure that the upper film does not close the inlet opening 18 when it is sucked up to the inlet opening 18 by the flow or the negative pressure.

The decompression crown 39 has a plurality of decompression teeth 24 .

The FIGS. 11A, 11B show a product dispenser 200 according to a second embodiment with an exemplary film bag from FIGS. 9A to 10C.

The product dispenser has 200 hanging loops 215 on the back. In addition, suitable double-sided adhesive tape 216 can be provided on the back for an adhesive connection.

The product dispenser 200 also includes holding means 205, 209 for fastening the container 100 to the dosing pump 1 and a flexibly mounted pressure bolt 201 for the manual actuation of the dosing pump 1.

In addition, the product dispenser 200 has an actuator seat 212 for accommodating a motor-driven actuator 300 for the automatic actuation of the metering pump 1 .

The housing of the product dispenser 200 is injection molded in one piece. The front and back are connected by a film hinge.

A complete system includes a product dispenser 200 and a container 100. Optionally, the system can also have a motor-driven actuator 300 for the automatic actuation of the dosing pump 1 in the container 100.

FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C represent a metering pump 1 according to a fifth embodiment, in a plan view and in sectional views in the non-actuated and actuated state.

The pump inlet 18 is arranged centrally in the pump dome 17 . The dosing pump 1 is actuated with a targeted finger pressure or a soft object on the center of the decompression crown. The fingertip or soft object pushes the top film 160 into the inlet opening 18 and closes it. This embodiment variant is used in cases where accidental actuation is particularly undesirable, for example in a handbag. In addition, it can also act as a child safety device. The restoring force in the pump dome 17 can be dimensioned in such a way that a child's finger cannot push it through.

The pump dome 17 has a plurality of spring beads 40 arranged concentrically. Furthermore, a large number of decompression teeth 24 are arranged on the pump dome 17 . The decompression teeth 24 are regularly spaced from each other.

The pump inlet 18 has a decompression crown 39 . The decompression crown 39 comprises a plurality of decompression teeth 24 which are designed in such a way and are arranged in a ring around the pump inlet 18 at a distance from one another such that two adjacent decompression teeth 24 each form a decompression channel 25 . After actuation, the decompression crown 39 and the decompression channels 25 formed by it ensure that the upper film 160 does not adhere to the metering pump 1 and thereby interrupts the volume flow in the direction of the pump inlet 18 . In the variant described here, the pump inlet 18 is located centrally on the pump dome 17. In this respect, the decompression teeth 24 on the pump dome 17 can also be understood as part of the decompression crown 39.

FIG. 13 shows a further embodiment of a metering pump 1 in a film bag 100. There is an inlet valve 33 on each side of the outlet valve 34. The inlet valves can in principle be positioned freely. A higher number enables the pump chamber 11 to be filled more easily, which is particularly advantageous for products with a higher viscosity. A stiffening frame 90 is manufactured integrally with the metering pump 1 . Furthermore, the metering pump 1 has an integral standing base 91 . Despite the fundamental lack of stability of a film bag 100, the one shown here can be stored upright.

The FIGS. 14A, 14B show a metering pump 1 with an antibacterial insert. In other words, the pump housing of the dosing pump has a bacteriostatic, bactericidal and/or fungicidal element 92 which is arranged in fluid connection from the pump chamber 11 to the pump outlet 16 .

The dosing pump has a further backflow preventer 35 in the fluid connection from the pump chamber 11 to the pump outlet 16 . The additional non-return valve 35 is an additional non-return valve connected in series with the outlet valve 34 in fluidic communication. The other check valve 35 is basically constructed in the same way as the outlet valve 34 . In FIGS. 15A, 15B shows a metering pump with a leak-proof device 41. The leakage protection is set up to seal off a fluid connection between the pump chamber 11 and the pump outlet 16 . The leakage protection 41 is set up and arranged in such a way that it can be removed, loosened or mechanically destroyed by a user in order to release the fluid connection. Here, a plug is broken out of the outlet channel 28 and remains there in a position where the fluid can flow past.

The FIGS. 16A, 16B show a further dosing pump 1 with a leak-proof device 41. In this case, part of the welded-on film is used to cover the pump outlet 16.

FIG. 17A, 17B, 17C show a thin-walled container with a further dosing pump 1. Because of the greater material thickness of the container 100 shown and the resulting rigidity of the material, one should no longer speak of a film bag in this variant.

Because of the greater rigidity, elastic areas are to be provided in the container in order to allow the container 100 to be emptied without air, accompanied by a reduction in volume. In one area of the container 100, a number of circumferential articulated beads are therefore worked into the wall in order to provide a sufficient stroke. Hinged beads can be distinguished from spring beads by a reduced cross-section of the material in the bending area and/or be bistable.

The pump chamber base 5 can optionally have one or more reinforcement beads.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A metering pump for integration into a container, the metering pump comprising a pump housing, the pump housing forming a pump chamber and having a pump inlet and a pump outlet, the pump chamber being delimited by a pump chamber floor and an elastically deformable pump dome, and the pump housing consisting of at least one first pump housing section and a second pump housing section is joined, wherein the pump dome is a part of the first pump housing section and the pump chamber bottom is a part of the second pump housing section.

2. Metering pump according to claim 1, wherein the first pump housing section and the second pump housing section together form an integral component and are connected by means of a film hinge, in particular wherein the integral component has no undercuts in a defined demoulding direction.

3. Metering pump according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an outlet valve with a closure part and a sealing seat corresponding to the closure part, wherein the outlet valve is arranged in a fluid connection from the pump chamber to the pump outlet and is designed as a backflow preventer, in particular wherein the closure part has a convex sealing surface , Preferably wherein the closure part is an integral part of the first or the second pump housing section and the sealing seat is an integral part of the other pump housing section.

4. The dosing pump according to claim 3, wherein the closure part of the outlet valve has a peripheral spring and/or sealing bead, in particular wherein the sealing seat of the outlet valve has an annular web that corresponds to the sealing bead and the web rests against the closure part in the sealing bead when the outlet valve is closed.

5. The dosing pump according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the outlet valve has an outlet valve opening with a circumferential outlet valve bulge and an annular channel arranged outside of the outlet valve bulge.

6. Metering pump according to one of claims 3 to 5, comprising a further non-return valve in the fluid connection from the pump chamber to the pump outlet, in particular wherein the further non-return valve is an additional check valve connected in fluid communication in series with the outlet valve.

7. Metering pump according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pump inlet has a decompression crown, the decompression crown comprising a plurality of decompression teeth which are configured and spaced apart from one another in a ring around the pump inlet such that two adjacent decompression teeth each form a decompression channel.

8. Metering pump according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pump dome has at least one circumferential spring bead, in particular wherein the pump dome has a plurality of concentrically arranged spring beads and/or wherein the pump dome has a large number of decompression teeth, in particular the decompression teeth are arranged on the pump dome at regular intervals from one another are.

9. The dosing pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump housing has at least one groove which is set up and arranged to form at least partially a fluid connection between the pump inlet and the pump chamber and/or between the pump chamber and the pump outlet.

10. Metering pump according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pump housing has at least one fastening area for entering into a snap connection, in particular wherein the fastening area has an edge for gripping behind, a latching tab and/or latching lug.

11. Metering pump according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pump housing has at least one bacteriostatic, bactericidal and/or fungicidal element which is arranged in fluid communication from the pumping chamber to the pump outlet.

12. Metering pump according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a leakage protection, wherein the leakage protection is set up to seal a fluid connection between the pump chamber and the pump outlet, further wherein the leakage protection is set up and arranged in such a way that it can be removed, loosened or mechanically destroyed by a user can to release the fluid connection.

13. Container with a metering pump according to one of the preceding claims, in particular wherein the metering pump is arranged in the container and welded to the container, preferably wherein the container and the metering pump are made of the same or a similar thermoplastic material.

14. Product dispenser for receiving a container according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the product dispenser has holding means for fastening the container and a flexibly mounted pressure bolt for manual actuation of the metering pump and/or an actuator seat for receiving a motor-operated actuator for automatic actuation of the Has dosing pump.

15. A system comprising a product dispenser according to claim 14 and a container according to claim 13, optionally wherein the system comprises a motor-driven actuator for automatically operating the dosing pump of the container.