U.S. patent application number 10/578867 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-21 for system for dispensing a substance.
This patent application is currently assigned to Well Design. Invention is credited to Lucas Alphonsus Maria Evers.
Application Number | 20070138202 10/578867 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34568032 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070138202 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Evers; Lucas Alphonsus
Maria |
June 21, 2007 |
System for dispensing a substance
Abstract
A system for dispensing a substance comprises a compressible
container for a stock of substance that is to be dispensed, which
container has an outlet member for dispensing substance from the
container, and a dispensing device for the metered dispensing of
substance from the container. The device has a housing with a
chamber for accommodating a compressible container, which chamber
has a substantially vertically extending peripheral wall and an
opening at the top side for placing the container in the chamber
from above. Furthermore, the device has a counter-supporting member
for the top side of the container, which counter-supporting member
can be placed over the opening at the top side of the chamber after
the container has been placed in the chamber. A displaceable
pressure-exerting member, which extends as a base that can be moved
up and down in the chamber and is designed to act on the container
which has been placed in the chamber, is used to empty the
container by the application of pressure. For this purpose, drive
means are also provided, in such a manner that the substance is
dispensed from the container as a result of compression of the
container between the counter-supporting member and the
pressure-exerting member moving upwards towards the
counter-supporting member.
Inventors: |
Evers; Lucas Alphonsus Maria;
(Zeist, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROWDY AND NEIMARK, P.L.L.C.;624 NINTH STREET, NW
SUITE 300
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-5303
US
|
Assignee: |
Well Design
386 Vleutenseweg
Utrecht
NL
NL 3235 HW
|
Family ID: |
34568032 |
Appl. No.: |
10/578867 |
Filed: |
November 9, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
November 9, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/NL04/00787 |
371 Date: |
May 11, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/95 ; 222/105;
222/207; 222/214; 222/391; 222/96 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67D 7/0216 20130101;
B67D 7/0227 20130101; A47J 47/01 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/095 ;
222/096; 222/105; 222/207; 222/214; 222/391 |
International
Class: |
B65D 35/28 20060101
B65D035/28; B65D 35/54 20060101 B65D035/54; B65D 35/56 20060101
B65D035/56; B65D 37/00 20060101 B65D037/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 11, 2003 |
NL |
1024759 |
Claims
1. A system for dispensing a substance, comprising: a compressible
container for a stock of substance that is to be dispensed, which
container has an outlet member for dispensing substance from the
container, a dispensing device for the metered dispensing of
substance from the container, which device comprises: a housing
having a chamber for accommodating a compressible container, which
chamber has a substantially vertically extending peripheral wall
and an opening at the top side for placing the container into the
chamber from above, a counter-supporting member for the top side of
the container, which counter-supporting member can be placed over
the opening at the top side of the chamber after the container has
been placed into the chamber, a displaceable pressure-exerting
member which extends as a base which can be moved up and down in
the chamber and is designed to act on the container placed in the
chamber, drive means for the pressure-exerting member, such that
the substance is dispensed from the container through compression
of the container between the counter-supporting member and the
pressure-exerting member moving upwards in the direction of the
counter-supporting member.
2. System according to claim 1, which comprises a dispensing
passage member which forms a dispensing passage for the substance,
the dispensing passage member being provided in the vicinity of the
top side of the chamber of the dispensing device, and the
dispensing passage preferably forming a downwardly facing
dispensing mouthpiece.
3. System according to claim 2, in which the dispensing passage
member is a loose component which can be coupled to the outlet
member of the container.
4. System according to claim 3, in which the dispensing passage
member is formed from a single piece of plastic as a flexible tube
having a hard end part to couple the dispensing passage member to
the outlet member of the container.
5. System according to claim 3, in which the dispensing device is
provided with fixing means for fixing the dispensing passage
member, which has already been coupled to the container, with
respect to the housing.
6. System according to claim 1, in which the housing, next to the
chamber for accommodating the container, has a vertical chamber for
accommodating a drive mechanism.
7. System according to claim 6, in which the peripheral wall of the
chamber for accommodating the container is provided with a vertical
slot which forms a passage to the other chamber, the
pressure-exerting member having a connecting element which extends
through the said slot and into the other chamber, thereby
connecting the pressure-exerting member to the drive means.
8. System according to claim 7, in which sealing means are provided
for sealing off the passage slot, in such a manner that the
container does not move into the passage slot as it is
compressed.
9. System according to claim 7, in which a sealing tape is
provided, sealing off the slot in the region above the
pressure-exerting member so as to prevent the compressible
container from entering the said slot.
10. System according to claim 1, in which the counter-supporting
member is a lid which can be fixed to the housing using suitable
locking means.
11. System according to claim 10, in which the lid is pivotably
attached to the housing.
12. System according to claim 1, in which the drive means comprise
a hand-driven mechanism.
13. System according to claim 12, in which the drive means comprise
an actuating handle which can be pivoted over an angle range, in
such a manner that a portion of substance is dispensed on each
actuating movement.
14. System according to claim 13, in which the housing has a
stationary pivot bearing for the actuating handle, preferably in
the vicinity of the top side of the housing.
15. System according to claim 14, in which the drive means comprise
a carrier which is connected to the pressure-exerting member and is
guided such that it can move vertically with respect to the
housing, which carrier can in each case be coupled to the pivoting
handle in such a manner that as a result of actuation of the
pivoting handle the carrier is in each case moved a distance
upwards with respect to the housing.
16. System according to claim 15, in which the actuating handle is
coupled to a rod-like drawing element, and in which the carrier is
provided with a first tilting plate for producing the coupling
between the drawing element and the carrier when the actuating
handle is actuated.
17. System according to claim 15, in which the drive means also
comprise a stationary guide element to which the carrier can be
coupled, in such a manner that the carrier, when it is decoupled
from the actuating handle, is held in place by the stationary guide
element.
18. System according to claim 16, in which the stationary guide
element comprises a rod-like element, and in which the carrier is
provided with a second tilting plate for producing the coupling
between the stationary rod-like element and the carrier.
19. System according to claim 12, in which the drive means comprise
a pressure-reducing mechanism, in order to move the
pressure-exerting member a small distance back at the end of the
dispensing of substance, in order to reduce the pressure in the
container.
20. System according to claim 16, in which the stationary guide
element comprises a rod-like element, in which the carrier is
provided with a second tilting plate for producing the coupling
between the stationary rod-like element and the carrier, and in
which the second tilting plate is fitted resiliently to the
carrier, in such a manner that the carrier, at the instant at which
the tilting plate engages on the stationary rod-like element, is
able to drop downwards by a distance which is such that the
pressure in the container is reduced.
21. System according to claim 16, in which the stationary guide
element comprises a rod-like element, and in which the carrier is
provided with a second tilting plate for producing the coupling
between the stationary rod-like element and the carrier, and in
which the second tilting plate is shaped in such a manner that at a
defined minimum tilting angle of the tilting plate with respect to
the stationary rod-like element it is coupled to the latter, which
minimum tilting angle is reached when the carrier has dropped a
certain distance downwards, thereby providing a pressure reducing
mechanism.
22. System according to claim 13, in which the actuating handle has
an associated pivot bearing which is guided in a vertically
moveable manner with respect to the housing, in such a manner that
as a result of actuation of the pivoting handle the pivot bearing
is in each case moved a distance upwards with respect to the
housing.
23. System according to claim 2, in which a valve, preferably a
self-closing valve, is provided for closing off the dispensing
passage.
24. System according to claim 2, in which the dispensing passage
member comprises a flexible hose-like element which forms the
dispensing passage.
25. System according to claim 23, in which the dispensing passage
member comprises a flexible hose-like element which forms the
dispensing passage, and in which the device is provided with a
squeezing-shut means for locally squeezing the flexible hose-like
element shut, for example a squeezing-shut means which is under
spring pressure.
26. System according to claim 2, in which an actively actuable
valve is provided for closing off the dispensing passage, which
valve is coupled to the drive means of the pressure-exerting member
in such a manner that the valve is actively opened by the drive
means when the pressure-exerting member is driven in order on the
road to compress the container.
27. System according to claim 26, in which the actively actuable
valve is provided with a timing mechanism which closes the opened
valve after a predetermined time.
28. System according to claim 26, in which the actively actuable
valve can be actuated by the drive means for the pressure-exerting
member, in such a manner that the valve is opened just before the
pressure-exerting member is driven.
29. System according to claim 2, in which the dispensing passage
member is integral with the dispensing device, so that the
container can be coupled to the dispensing passage member
accommodated in the dispensing device.
30. System according to claim 24, in which compression means are
present for deforming the dispensing passage in such a manner that
the substance in the dispensing passage is forced outwards.
31. System according to claim 30, in which the compression means
comprise a compression member which is designed, during dispensing
of substance, to compress the dispensing passage on a defined
compression region and to displace the compression region over the
dispensing passage towards the dispensing mouthpiece.
32. System according to claim 30, in which the compression means
are coupled to the drive means of the pressure-exerting member.
33. System according to claim 1, in which the container is a
pouch.
34. System according to claim 33, in which on the inner side of the
pouch a substantially annular outlet opening is arranged with an
insertion opening for a dispensing passage member.
35. System according to claim 34, in which the counter-supporting
member has a wall surface which faces the pressure-exerting member
and is substantially complementary to the surface of the
pressure-exerting member located opposite, in such a manner that
the outlet member of the pouch, as seen in the pressure-exerting
direction, is recessed with respect to the said wall surface of the
counter-supporting member, so that the pouch can be emptied by
pressure to the maximum possible extent.
36. System according to claim 1, in which the pressure-exerting
member is provided with a recess, preferably arranged in the
vicinity of the peripheral of the pressure-exerting member, for
receiving deformed, for example crumpled or folded, container
material during the compression of the container.
37. System according to claim 1, in which the substantially
vertically extending peripheral wall of the housing in the chamber
has a suitable roughness, so that there is friction between the
container and the peripheral wall sufficient to ensure that the
deformation of the container occurs only at the pressure-exerting
member.
38. (canceled)
39. (canceled)
40. A dispensing device for the metered dispensing of substance
from a compressible container, which device comprises: a housing
having a chamber for accommodating a compressible container, which
chamber has a substantially vertically extending peripheral wall
and an opening at the top side for placing the container into the
chamber from above, a counter-supporting member for the top side of
the container, which counter-supporting member can be placed over
the opening at the top side of the chamber after the container has
been placed into the chamber, a displaceable pressure-exerting
member which extends as a base which can be moved up and down in
the chamber and is designed to act on the container placed in the
chamber, drive means for the pressure-exerting member, such that
the substance is dispensed from the container through compression
of the container between the counter-supporting member and the
pressure-exerting member moving upwards in the direction of the
counter-supporting member.
41. Dispensing device according to claim 40, wherein the housing,
next to the chamber for accommodating the container, has a vertical
chamber for accommodating a drive mechanism, the peripheral wall of
the chamber for accommodating the container being provided with a
vertical slot which forms a passage to the other chamber, the
pressure-exerting member having a connecting element which extends
through the said slot and into the other chamber, thereby
connecting the pressure-exerting member to the drive means, and
sealing means being provided for sealing off the passage slot, in
such a manner that the container does not move into the passage
slot as it is compressed.
42. Dispensing device according to claim 40, wherein the drive
means comprise a carrier which is connected to the
pressure-exerting member and is guided such that it can move
vertically with respect to the housing, which carrier can in each
case be coupled to the pivoting handle in such a manner that as a
result of actuation of the pivoting handle the carrier is in each
case moved a distance upwards with respect to the housing, the
drive means further comprising an actuating handle which is coupled
to a rod-like drawing element, and the carrier being provided with
a first tilting plate for producing the coupling between the
drawing element and the carrier when the actuating handle is
actuated, the drive means also comprising a stationary rod-like
guide element to which the carrier can be coupled by a second
tilting plate provided on the carrier, in such a manner that the
carrier, when it is decoupled from the actuating handle, is held in
place by the stationary guide element, and wherein the drive means
comprise a pressure-reducing mechanism, in order to move the
pressure-exerting member a small distance back at the end of the
dispensing of substance, in order to reduce the pressure in the
container.
43. Dispensing device according to claim 42, wherein the second
tilting plate is fitted resiliently to the carrier, in such a
manner that the carrier, at the instant at which the tilting plate
engages on the stationary rod-like element, is able to drop
downwards by a distance which is such that the pressure in the
container is reduced.
44. Dispensing device according to claim 42, wherein the second
tilting plate is shaped in such a manner that at a defined minimum
tilting angle of the tilting plate with respect to the stationary
rod-like element it is coupled to the latter, which minimum tilting
angle is reached when the carrier has dropped a certain distance
downwards, thereby providing a pressure reducing mechanism.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a system for dispensing a
substance, comprising a compressible container for a stock of
substance that is to be dispensed, which container has an outlet
member for dispensing substance from the container, and also
comprising a dispensing device for the metered dispensing of
substance from the container.
[0002] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved
system. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide
a system which, for example when used in the catering industry for
dispensing an edible sauce or the like, takes up little space in
the kitchen. Moreover, it is an object of the invention to provide
a system which is very easy to operate.
[0003] The invention provides a system for dispensing a substance,
comprising: [0004] a compressible container for a stock of
substance that is to be dispensed, which container has an outlet
member for dispensing substance from the container, [0005] a
dispensing device for the metered dispensing of substance from the
container, which device comprises: [0006] a housing having a
chamber for accommodating a compressible container, which chamber
has a substantially vertically extending peripheral wall and an
opening at the top side for placing the container into the chamber
from above, [0007] a counter-supporting member for the top side of
the container, which counter-supporting member can be placed over
the opening at the top side of the chamber after the container has
been placed into the chamber, [0008] a displaceable
pressure-exerting member which extends as a base which can be moved
up and down in the chamber and is designed to act on the container
placed in the chamber, [0009] drive means for the pressure-exerting
member, such that the substance is dispensed from the container
through compression of the container between the counter-supporting
member and the pressure-exerting member moving upwards in the
direction of the counter-supporting member.
[0010] This system makes it possible for the compressible
container, which in a preferred embodiment is designed as a pouch,
to be placed in the associated chamber in the housing from above.
The counter-supporting member, which is preferably designed as a
lid, can then be fitted and substance can be dispensed. In the
process, the pressure-exerting member moves upwards.
[0011] Preferably, the system comprises a dispensing passage member
which forms a dispensing passage for the substance, the dispensing
passage member being provided in the vicinity of the top side of
the chamber of the dispensing device, and the dispensing passage
preferably forming a downwardly facing dispensing mouthpiece. The
dispensing passage member may be an integral component of the
compressible container, for example a hose-like element.
[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, the dispensing passage member
is a loose component which can be coupled to the outlet member of
the container. This arrangement is preferably designed in such a
manner that the coupling is unbreakable, which means that after the
pouch has been emptied under the application of pressure the
dispensing passage member also has to be disposed of. This is
advantageous from a food hygiene perspective.
[0013] Preferably, the dispensing device is provided with fixing
means for fixing the dispensing passage member, which has already
been coupled to the container, with respect to the housing.
[0014] Further advantageous embodiments of the system according to
the invention are described in the claims and in the following
description with reference to the drawing, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 diagrammatically depicts a side view of a preferred
embodiment of the dispensing device of the system according to the
invention,
[0016] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the dispensing device from FIG.
1 with the lid removed,
[0017] FIGS. 3-5 show the same view as in FIG. 1, with the
container having been emptied to an ever increasing extent,
[0018] FIG. 6 shows a detail of the dispensing device and
associated compressible container,
[0019] FIG. 7 shows a detail of the dispensing system,
[0020] FIG. 8 shows a side view of drive means of a preferred
embodiment of the device according to the invention,
[0021] FIG. 9 shows a cross section through a preferred embodiment
of a dispensing device according to the invention,
[0022] FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of compression means for
compressing a dispensing passage member,
[0023] FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of compression means for
compressing a dispensing passage member, and
[0024] FIG. 12 shows a plan view of the dispensing device shown in
FIG. 1, with the lid removed.
[0025] FIGS. 1-5 show a dispensing device 1 for the metered
dispensing of substance from a compressible container 2 for a stock
of substance that is to be dispensed. The container has been
omitted from FIGS. 1-5 for the sake of clarity.
[0026] The container is preferably a (plastic) pouch 2, as
partially shown in FIG. 6, provided with an outlet member 3.
However, the container could also be a container with a
dimensionally stable, deformable wall, such as for example a type
of PET bottle. The outlet member 3 shown is of a generally known
type, as marketed, for example, by Asept in Sweden. This outlet
member 3 is arranged on the inner side of the pouch 2 and is
substantially annular with an insertion opening 4 for a dispensing
passage member 5.
[0027] As is known from Asept, it is preferable for the pouch wall
to be punctured during coupling of the dispensing passage member 5
and the outlet member 3, or if appropriate only in a second
operation after the coupling operation.
[0028] At one end, the dispensing passage member 5 preferably
comprises a part which punctures the pouch and is made from hard
plastic, as well as an adjoining part which at the other end opens
to the outside and is made from flexible plastic. It is preferable
for these two parts to be made from a single piece of plastic, in
which case the different properties of the said parts are obtained
by, for example, optionally rapid cooling of the relevant part of
the dispensing passage member 5 or in some other way.
[0029] The coupling between outlet member 3 and dispensing passage
member 5 is preferably permanent, so that the coupling cannot be
released again. This means that the dispensing passage member 5 has
to be disposed of together with the pouch 2.
[0030] The device 1 has a housing 10 with a chamber 11 for
accommodating a compressible container 2. The chamber 11 has a
substantially vertically extending peripheral wall 12 and an
opening 13 at the top side for the container 2 to be placed in the
chamber 11 from above.
[0031] When using a separate dispensing passage member 5, it is
preferable for the said member 5 to be coupled to the pouch 2 in
advance and for the unit formed in this way to be placed into the
device 1. In a variant which is not shown, it is provided that the
user first of all fixes the loose dispensing passage member with
respect to the housing and then couples the container to the
dispensing passage member.
[0032] In yet another variant, the dispensing passage member is
incorporated integrally in the dispensing device, for example as
part of the housing.
[0033] In another possible embodiment of the container 2, the
dispensing passage member 5 may be formed integrally with the
outlet member 3. In this case, during use the container 2 is placed
in the device 1 together with the dispensing passage member 5 and
is then disposed of after use. In an embodiment of this type, the
dispensing passage member 5 is closed off in a suitably sealed
way.
[0034] The device 1 has a counter-supporting member 15 for the top
side of pouch 2, which is in this case designed as a hinged lid
with an associated locking means 16 for locking the lid 15 in the
closed position.
[0035] After the pouch 2 with member 5 has been placed in the
device 1, the lid 15 is fitted over the opening 13 at the top side
of the chamber 10 and locked.
[0036] The housing 10 has a foot 17, by means of which the housing
10 can be placed on a supporting surface.
[0037] Furthermore, the device 1 has a displaceable
pressure-exerting member 18 which extends as a base that can be
displaced up and down in the chamber 11 and is designed to act on
the pouch 2 which has been placed in the chamber 11.
[0038] To move the pressure-exerting member 18 upwards under a
pressure-exerting force, drive means 20 are provided, in such a
manner that the substance is dispensed from the pouch 2 through
compression of the pouch 2 between the lid 15 and the
pressure-exerting member 18 moving upwards in the direction of the
lid 15.
[0039] Before closing the lid 15, the dispensing passage member 5
is brought into engagement with fixing means 21, in this case the
slot 22, so that the dispensing passage member 5 and the outlet
member 3 are at the correct position.
[0040] As can be seen in the drawing, the dispensing passage member
5 is preferably located in the vicinity of the top side of the
chamber 11 of the dispensing device 1. The dispensing passage 6
preferably has a dispensing mouthpiece facing downwards.
[0041] It is clearly apparent from FIG. 2 that the housing 10, next
to the chamber 11 for accommodating the pouch 2, has a vertical
chamber 25 for accommodating a drive mechanism 20 which is
connected to the pressure-exerting member 18.
[0042] The peripheral wall of the chamber 11 is provided with a
vertical slot 26 which forms a passage to the other chamber 25, the
pressure-exerting member 18 having a connecting element 27 which
extends through the said slot 26 into the other chamber 25 and
thereby connects the pressure-exerting member to the drive means
20.
[0043] In a preferred embodiment, there are sealing means for
sealing off the passage slots 26, in such a manner that the pouch 2
does not move into the passage slots 26 as it is compressed. By way
of example, for this purpose there are brushes 29 (FIG. 12) or
another stationary element, for example a stationary sealing tape,
which can be deformed in such a manner that it can engage around
the connecting element 27 and can seal off the slot. Another
possible option is a sealing tape 28 (FIG. 2) which moves with the
pressure-exerting member 18 and seals off the slot in the region
above the pressure-exerting member 18 to prevent the pouch 2 from
moving into the slot.
[0044] In the embodiment shown, the drive means comprise a manually
driven mechanism, but other solutions, such as those using an
electric drive, are of course also possible.
[0045] The drive means 20 in this case comprise an actuating handle
30 which can be pivoted through an angle range, in such a manner
that each actuating movement dispenses a portion of substance as a
result of the pressure-exerting member 18 being moved a certain
distance upwards so as to compress the pouch 2 further.
[0046] In one possible embodiment, the housing has a stationary
pivot bearing for the actuating handle, preferably in the vicinity
of the top side of the housing.
[0047] In the embodiment shown, the actuating handle 30 has an
associated pivot bearing 31 which is guided in a vertically
moveable manner in a guide feature 32 with respect to the housing
10, in such a manner that as a result of actuation of the pivot
handle 30 the pivot bearing 31 is in each case displaced a distance
upwards with respect to the housing. This can be seen from FIGS. 1,
3-5.
[0048] The transmission mechanism between the handle 30 and the
pressure-exerting member 18 can be designed in a wide range of
ways. One possible solution is a threaded spindle which is rotated
in steps through actuation of the handle 30, a spindle nut member
being connected to the pressure-exerting member.
[0049] Another possible design has a rod 34, a carrier 35 for the
pressure-exerting member 18 which can slide along the rod and a
quick-action displacement and clamping mechanism (with clamping lug
36) which engages on the rod, as is known, for example, from U.S.
Pat. No. 4,926,722 (Quick-Grip). A mechanism of this type can also
be designed "double" in order to achieve a stationary setting of
the manual actuation member, for example a pivot handle. In this
case, two rods would be provided, one coupled directly to the
manual actuation member and, via a freewheeling coupling, to the
component which climbs upwards along the other rod.
[0050] One possible embodiment of the drive means having the
"double" system is shown by way of example in FIG. 8. In the
figure, in accordance with what has been described above, the
pressure-exerting member is denoted by reference numeral 18 and the
actuating handle is denoted by 30. The drive means 79 of the
"double" system comprise a drawing rod 81 which can move to and fro
in the axial direction and a stationary rod 82 arranged parallel to
the drawing rod. The pressure-exerting member 18 is coupled to a
carrier 80. A tilting plate 83 with a passage bore for the rod 81
is arranged around the drawing rod 81. At an end region, the top
side of the tilting plate 83 is placed against a supporting pin 84
secured to the carrier 80. The underside of the other end region of
the tilting plate 83 is supported by a spring 85, which in turn is
supported on a supporting member 86 which is fixedly connected to
the carrier 80. A tilting plate 87 with a passage bore for the rod
82 is arranged around the stationary rod 82. The top side of an end
region of the tilting plate 87 is placed against a spring 89 which
is secured to the carrier 80 and is connected to a supporting pin
88. The underside of the other end region of the tilting plate 87
is supported by a spring 91, which in turn is supported on a
supporting member 92 which is fixedly connected to the carrier 80.
Furthermore, there is a stop member 90 which limits the movement of
the tilting plate 87 by the spring 89.
[0051] The handle 30 is connected to the stationary rod 82 by means
of a pivot bearing 94, but could also be connected to another
stationary component of the device 1. Via a reversing mechanism 93
which comprises a lever 95, a pivoting movement of the handle 30 is
converted into an axial movement of the drawing rod 81. When the
handle 30 pivots downwards (in the clockwise direction in the
figure), the drawing rod 81 moves upwards, and when the handle 30
pivots upwards (in the anticlockwise direction in the figure), the
drawing rod 81 moves downwards.
[0052] During use, the handle 30 will be pivoted downwards and
therefore the drawing rod 81 will be moved upwards. The tilting
plate 83 then adopts an oblique position and tilts about the
drawing rod 81, with the result that the carrier 80 is coupled to
the drawing rod 81 and moves upwards with it. Then, the handle 30
is pivoted back into an at-rest position, with the result that the
drawing rod 81 is moved downwards. The handle 30 could be made to
pivot back, for example, by means of a restoring spring 96, as
shown in the figure. The tilting plate 83 is also moved downwards
by the movement of the drawing rod 81, with the result that the
tilting plate 83 will tilt with respect to the drawing rod 81, i.e.
adopts a less oblique position with respect to the rod 81. As a
result, the tilting plate 83, and therefore the carrier 80, is
decoupled from the drawing rod 81. Therefore, the carrier 80 will
not also be pulled downwards by the drawing rod 81.
[0053] When the carrier 80 moves upwards, the other tilting plate
87 is tilted towards a less oblique position and is decoupled from
the carrier 80. Therefore, the carrier 80 can move freely upwards
with respect to the stationary rod 82. When the carrier 80 comes to
a stop at the end of the upwards movement of the drawing rod 81,
the tilting plate 87 adopts a more oblique position with respect to
the stationary rod, so that the carrier 80 is coupled to the
stationary rod. Therefore, the carrier 80 is only connected to the
drawing rod 81 and decoupled from the stationary rod 82 during the
upwards movement of the drawing rod 81.
[0054] The spring 89 which is arranged between the supporting point
88 and the tilting plate 87 ensures that the carrier 80, when it
comes to a stop after an upwards movement and is decoupled from the
drawing rod 81, can drop a predetermined, small distance downwards,
so that the pressure on the container 2 which is being compressed
by the pressure-exerting member 18 is reduced and is preferably
eliminated altogether. This movement is also referred to as
"backdrop" and prevents liquid from continuing to flow out of the
container 2 when the upwards movement of the drawing rod 81 has
been completed. This allows an accurately measured quantity to be
dispensed per movement of the handle 30, allowing good metering of
sauce, for example.
[0055] It is also possible to use an embodiment in which there is
no spring 89, but rather the second tilting plate 87 is formed in
such a manner that it is coupled to the stationary rod-like element
82 at a defined minimum tilting angle of the tilting plate 87 with
respect to the stationary rod-like element 82. In particular, the
passage bore in the tilting plate is formed and dimensioned in such
a manner that the minimum tilting angle is reached when the carrier
80 has dropped a certain distance downwards and the load on the
container 2 has been at least partially relieved.
[0056] As another alternative, it would be possible to provide a
chain mechanism with two wheels which are positioned one above the
other and around which a chain loop runs. The pressure-exerting
member 18 is then connected to the chain. Driving one of the wheels
in steps then causes the said pressure-exerting member to be moved
upwards in steps.
[0057] It is preferable to provide a valve, preferably a
self-closing valve, for closing off the dispensing passage 6. If
the dispensing passage member 5 is a flexible hose-like element, as
in FIG. 7, it is possible to provide a squeezing-shut means 40 for
locally squeezing the flexible hose-like element shut, for example
a squeezing-shut means 41 which is placed under spring
pressure.
[0058] As an alternative, it is possible to fit an actively
actuable valve. The actively actuable valve is coupled to the drive
means 20, 79 and is opened at the moment at which the
pressure-exerting mechanism is actuated. As a result, the valve is
already open when the container 2 is placed under pressure. This
has the advantage over the self-closing valve described above with
reference to FIG. 7 that the device can even be used to dispense a
sauce which contains solid constituents as well as a liquid
constituent. With a self-closing valve as shown in FIG. 7, the
solid constituents would be retained by the valve and only the
liquid fraction of the sauce would be dispensed.
[0059] To prevent the possibility of the actively actuated valve
being held open while the container 2 is under pressure, it is
possible for the actively actuated valve to be closed by a
preferably mechanical timing mechanism. The timing mechanism
ensures that the valve can only remain open for a preset time. This
allows accurate metering of sauce.
[0060] It is also possible for the actively actuated valve to be
closed by a threshold mechanism which is activated when a
mechanical or electronic threshold at the end of the movement of
the drive means is exceeded. This too allows accurate metering.
[0061] To achieve optimum emptying of the pouch 2, there is
provision for the lid 15 to have a wall surface 41 which faces the
pressure-exerting member 18 (cf. FIG. 6) and is substantially
complementary to the opposite surface of the pressure-exerting
member 18, in such a manner that the outlet member 3 of the pouch
2, as seen in the direction in which pressure is exerted, is
recessed with respect to the sidewall surface 41 of the lid 15, so
that the pouch 2 can be emptied to the maximum possible extent.
[0062] This latter aspect is also advantageous for other
configurations in which a pouch 2 with outlet member 3 is emptied
by a pressure-exerting member. In a device of this type, a wall is
then provided with a recess for accommodating the outlet member, so
that the surrounding wall surface is complementary to the
associated surface of the pressure-exerting member.
[0063] To achieve optimum emptying of the container 2, the
pressure-exerting member may advantageously be formed as shown in
cross section in FIG. 9. The pressure-exerting member 118 shown in
FIG. 9 has an engagement surface 119 and a groove 120 located
around it. The groove 120 is used to accommodate container material
which becomes wrinkled during compression, as indicated at 121 in
the figure.
[0064] To prevent the container 2 from folding up in the centre
rather than at the pressure-exerting member 118 under the influence
of the compressive force, it is possible to make the inner side of
the wall 12 suitably rough, so that wrinkling of the container 2 is
counteracted by the friction between the container 2 and the wall
12, except for at the location of the pressure-exerting member
118.
[0065] It is preferable for the device to include compression means
for deforming the dispensing passage in such a manner that the
substance in the dispensing passage is pressed outwards. The
compression means comprise, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, a
compression member 100 which is designed to compress the dispensing
passage 101 at a defined compression region, indicated by 102,
during dispensing of substance and to displace the compression
region 102 along the dispensing passage 101 in the direction of the
dispensing mouthpiece 103. 105 denotes a supporting element for the
dispensing passage 101. A compression member 100 may, for example,
be one or more rollers or cams which press on the dispensing
passage and are rolled or slid along the dispensing passage towards
the dispensing mouthpiece. The rollers or cams may be secured to a
belt or chain 104 as indicated by way of example in FIG. 10. The
chain or belt 104 can be driven by drive means, which are
preferably coupled to the drive means of the pressure-exerting
member for compressing the container.
[0066] In the figure, there are two rollers 100, but there could of
course be more rollers, so that a type of wave motion or a
peristaltic motion is produced in the dispensing passage 101.
According to a possible variant embodiment, the compression means
may also comprise a peristaltic vane pump, in which case the vanes
serve as compression member and are driven by a worm wheel. The
vanes compress the dispensing passage one by one in succession, so
that the substance is forced towards the dispensing mouthpiece.
[0067] In an alternative embodiment of the compression means, the
passage 101 can be compressed ever closer towards the dispensing
mouthpiece 103 from one side by means of pressure-exerting elements
110 and 111 as shown in FIG. 11. These elements may, for example,
be pressure-exerting plates. The pressure-exerting element 110 is
stationary and serves to support the dispensing passage 101. The
pressure-exerting element 111 is secured pivotably and can be
pivoted in the direction of the pressure-exerting element 110, so
that the dispensing passage is compressed ever further towards the
dispensing mouthpiece 103 between the two pressure-exerting
elements 110, 111.
[0068] The compression means are particularly advantageous if a
viscous substance is to be dispensed from the container, in which
case simply applying a pressure to the container alone will not be
sufficient for satisfactory dispensing of the substance. Moreover,
the compression means can also be used in dispensing devices other
than the dispensing device disclosed in the figures and the
description.
* * * * *