WO2010133209A1 - Mixing and dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a novel apparatus for mixing and dispensing substances, in particular fluids, solutions, emulsions, dispersions and crèmes or other viscous substances, and to the use thereof. Application areas include industry, in particular the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, but also individual end users in all fields in which substances are mixed with each other before use. The apparatus according to the invention for mixing and dispensing substances comprises a pump head (1), a pump shaft (2) and a pump housing (3), wherein the pump housing (3) has at least two inlets, which are designed such that they have connecting elements, by which they can be temporarily connected to at least two arbitrary containers (12).

Description

 Mixing and dispensing device

The invention relates to a novel device for mixing and dispensing substances, in particular liquids, solutions, emulsions, dispersions and creams or other viscous substances, and their use. Areas of application are the industry, in particular the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, but also individual end users in all fields in which substances are mixed together before use.

There are already dispensing devices with a lower part and an elastic upper part known. The upper part forms a pumping chamber with the lower part. By depressing the upper part by means of an actuating element, a liquid is displaced from the pumping chamber and discharged. This is followed by an automatic elastic return of the upper part, wherein new liquid is sucked into the pumping chamber.

Thus, patent EP 0 806 249 B1 discloses a dispensing pump for dispensing liquid from a container. A pump housing is attachable to the container and holds a pump shaft which is manually depressurized into the pump housing against spring force by a user presses on a donor knob attached to the pump shaft. Between the pump housing and the dispenser head two sleeve sections are mounted as a spray protection, which are pushed into one another. The return spring is arranged in a conventional manner in one of the pumped liquids to be pumped pump cavity.

EP 758 615 describes an example of a device which allows several products with different sun protection factors or a sunscreen product and an apres-soleil, such as a hydrating cream, to be arranged under the look of a single package.

EP 427 609 describes a device comprising an adjusting member which permits the variation of the proportions of two products taken in respective containers in a mixture. This adjusting member is in the form of a rotating Partly that allows to press more or less on a pump rod when a push button is pressed.

In US 5,971,210 a relatively complex device is disclosed which includes a mechanism which allows the conversion of an actuation of the push button in more or less long actuation paths of the pump rods.

The patent application DE 39 11 089 describes a device for dispensing a product, comprising two containers, each with a pump which allows the dispensing of product in a common line. The apparatus also includes an adjustment member which permits adjustment of the inclination of an actuating fork in use of the device.

The patent application FR 2 733 800 describes a rotary device with several vertical pumps.

The patent application DE 31 22 330 describes a container, which comprises a pump provided with a dispensing device.

In patent application US 2001/0054626 a container comprising a push-button incorporating mutually movable portions is disclosed.

US 5 779 109 describes a dispenser provided with a device closure member.

The patent application FR 2 793479 describes a dispenser having a common receiving housing, which accommodates two containers, each containing a product, which device is also provided with a common pusher with a discharge opening.

EP 1 201 318 B1 describes a dispensing unit intended for simultaneous mixing and dispensing of two separately stored products. About an inner channel in the actuator, which is movable with respect to the body to cause the simultaneous delivery of the products from two containers, the Delivered product mixture. Both containers are provided with a pump and / or a valve which comprises the hollow actuating rod and causes the delivery of the product after being pushed in. This dispensing unit is attached to the two actuating rods of the container. By manually depressing the actuating element and the intermediate member connected to it, the product mixture is forced out of a mixing reservoir to the outside. The flow direction is determined by conventional ball valves.

All these systems have the disadvantage that they are designed only for the associated product and do not allow an individual mixing of different substances. There is a need in all sectors of industry, and also among home users, to freely combine various materials, to mix, store and extract them in a simple, practical and clean manner, without being soiled or spoiled by prolonged standing in unsuitable containers.

For example, in recent years, for example, cosmetics are increasingly being offered which consist of two or more components and are delivered at the same time separately by means of dispensing pumps. Even with hobby cosmetics manufacturers there is a need for a simple and inexpensive variant of a freely combinable mixing and dosing system. Moreover, two- or multi-component products have been used in technology for many years.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved dispensing device and the possibility of mixing several separately stored components that allows the user the free variation of the mixture and dosage of several individual components, with a cheaper production as well as simple or easy operation - preferably also can be achieved with almost complete emptying of the pumping chamber or low dead volume - especially in a more viscous, cosmetic liquid. The above object is achieved by an apparatus according to claim 1, a method according to claim 22 and a use according to claim 24. Advantageous developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The present invention relates to a mixing and dispensing apparatus according to the preamble of any one of the independent claims.

The term "mixing and dispensing device" is to be understood in the present invention, in particular a metering pump or hand-operated pump for dispensing a preferably cosmetic liquid. However, it can also be any other dispensing device, such as a container, dispensing or spraying head, dispenser or the like, in particular for a cosmetic liquid act. The term "cosmetic liquid" in a narrower sense cosmetics, creams, body lotions, hair dyes, deodorant, a foam, a gel, a paint spray, a sunscreen or skin care agent o. The like. To understand. But in a broader sense, other personal care products, cleaning products, o. The like., And also suspensions and fluids, preferably. Further, as other liquids, for example, monomer solutions and their crosslinkers and hardeners, and in particular also technical fluids and fluids, such as two-component adhesives, paints and coatings, as well as multi-component medical devices and drugs o. The like., Are used. However, for reasons of simplification and because of the focus of use, only cosmetic liquid is often referred to below.

A first aspect of the present invention resides in that the pump housing has two and more inlets designed to have common connecting elements which permit permanent or temporary connection to the product containers.

A second, independently realizable aspect of the present invention is that the usual ball check valve can indeed be used but a new solution is preferred, which may be attached to both the product container, as well as in the pump housing. Preferably, the attachment of the Check valves on or in the product containers, which may be conventional tubes, bags or sleeves.

The additional use of the check valve according to the invention in the pump piston simplifies the production of pump shaft and pump piston. A suitable interior design of pump piston, actuator and discharge approach force the mixing of the products. The delivery approach may take any form and with additional elements such. B. are provided for foaming.

Further advantages, features, properties and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings 1-3.

The transfer member may deform when the push button is allowed to move.

In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises an elastically deformable transmission member arranged to transmit movement of the push button to the dispensing member for dispensing product, the elastically deformable member being arranged to deform.

The actuator may comprise a rod which is displaceable in a tubular guide of the push button, and the said elastically deformable member associated with this actuator may be arranged around this rod, for example constituted by a compression coil spring.

The actuators can be interconnected by an elastically deformable coupling unit, which can facilitate their manufacture and manipulation, especially when they are inserted into the device.

The coupling unit may comprise nipple mounted on the push button, via which the product delivered by the pumps is delivered to the push button. The device may include a flexible conduit which allows circulation of the products delivered by the pumps between the actuators with receptacles associated with these nipples.

It also includes a pump rod that allows delivery of the product delivered by the pump via an internal channel of the rod.

The push button may include an upper portion that forms a support surface that allows the user to operate the push button and an elastically deformable shell that displaces this upper portion downward.

The device may comprise an outlet opening provided with a head allowing further mixing or foaming of the liquid.

The device may comprise a base part which serves to mount the pumps and with respect to which the push button is movable.

The containers may consist of tubes / bags or cartridges. Tubes, pouches or cartridges must be designed in such a way that if the contents are removed in portions, at least one container wall can give way to compensate for the loss of volume.

The containers can be at least joined together by a profile part, to which they are attached.

The unit pump and container can be placed in a suitable outer packaging.

The device can be used for packaging, mixing and dispensing numerous cosmetic, pharmaceutical, household and other products.

The invention also provides, according to another of its aspects, a method for the simultaneous dispensing of a plurality of products, which method comprises the steps of:

a device as defined above is provided,

- products are delivered to the container, the user has the possibility of connecting the product containers in any combination with the device,

- The push button is moved and this movement of the push button is transferred to the discharge part of the pump to deliver the products in mixed form.

The removal of different viscous or dense individual components can be regulated by the choice of the cross section of the check valves but also via suitable reducers in the product containers. For a better understanding of the invention, the accompanying drawings serve 1-3.

The figure shows a schematic, fragmentary sectional view of a proposed donor pump with a mixing liquid to be pumped containing in three associated containers.

Check valves:

The proposed check valves consist of a permeable structures facing away from the direction of flow, such as grids or screens, designed such that the non-return or hose-snout closures in the flow direction come to lie on a grid web or a grid plate with areas representing the risk of reflux. The check valves lie on the grid and open during the suction stroke of the piston. When pressure is reversed by depressing the piston close the flaps. The edges of the flaps are in the closed state on webs of the grid disk.

The closure function of the flaps can be taken in a further solution by a hose which terminates with the edge of the support grid and protrudes like a trunk tapering in the flow direction. During the suction stroke of the piston, the liquid flows from the container into the pump chamber. When pressure reverses the "trunk" collapses and lies on the support grid. The support grid is constructed so that the lower trunk opening rests in the collapsed state on a disc. The proposed check valves can be placed in the piston to set the direction of flow when depressing the piston in the direction of the discharge opening.

The check valves, including the known ball valves may also be part of a separate solution that can be screwed on commercially available tubes or bags so as to connect them to the device according to the invention.

Preferred applications of the invention are for two or more component products, such as hair dyeing products, adhesives, lacquers. A particular field of application is the mixing and dispensing of personal care products that can not be industrially manufactured due to instability of the formulation, such as e.g. a gel, an oil and an emulsion.

Another area of application is the provision of cosmetic base formulations, which the user can freely combine. This gives the consumer the possibility of an individual mixture of personal care products.

The device is realized according to the claims and explained in more detail below:

The apparatus for mixing and dispensing fabrics includes a pump head, a pump shaft, and a pump housing, the pump housing having at least two inlets configured to have connecting elements, whereby they are temporarily connectable to at least two arbitrary containers.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the pump housing contains at least three inlets for the temporary coupling of containers.

The substances which are mixed and dispensed with the device according to the invention are all substances in the liquid state of aggregation of various viscosities or composition, such as liquids, solutions, emulsions, dispersions and creams or other viscous substances. The device is characterized in that the dockable containers are all suitable containers for receiving and storing liquids, such as cans, bags, bottles, cartridges and the like.

According to the invention, the connecting elements are designed so that they are freely combinable with any containers.

In one embodiment of the invention, the connecting elements are screw, Luer-look, bayonet or plug connections.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the connecting elements are designed as separate adapters.

In another embodiment, the containers are connected via the connecting elements directly to the pump chamber.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the containers are connected via the adapter to the pump chamber.

In the device according to the invention, check valves are attached to the container or to the pump chamber or to the adapter.

Preference is given to using check valves, ball valves, hose snore valves or non-return valves.

In a particular embodiment, the non-return valve is constructed of a permeable, fixed structure facing away from the flow direction and one or more movable valve flaps resting in the direction of flow and possibly further additives.

In another particular embodiment, the hose-whistle valve from a flow direction facing away, permeable, solid structure and one or more lying in the flow direction, movable hose-trunk and possibly other additives constructed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device is characterized in that the pumphead includes a push button which includes a delivery port of a dispensing member.

Advantageously, the discharge opening and / or the discharge part is provided with additional elements, such as for foaming.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the pump shaft includes a spring.

The pump body includes a pump chamber and a piston.

The pump body is connected through the discharge part with the discharge opening in the push button.

The piston may advantageously contain a valve.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the interior of the pump piston is advantageously designed by means of suitable Verwirbelungseinsätze or surface design for mixing the products.

Preferably, the container is a tube, a bag or a cartridge.

In one embodiment of the invention, the device is a metering pump, hand-operated pump, a dispenser, a container or a dispensing or spraying head.

The invention further relates to a method for mixing and dispensing of substances, which is characterized in that in the containers according to the invention products are arbitrarily combined by the user by

- The product containers are connected in any combination with the device

- the push button is moved,

this movement of the push button is transmitted to the delivery part of the pumps,

- A negative pressure is generated and

- By opening the valves, the products in mixed form sucked into the pump chamber and - Be discharged via the discharge opening of the dispensing part.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the method is characterized in that a desired mixing ratio is achieved by the choice of suitable diameter of the check valves and / or connecting pieces.

Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the device according to the invention for mixing and dispensing substances.

In a preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention is used for mixing and dispensing two- or multi-component products, such as hair dyeing products, adhesives, lacquers, personal care products, pharmaceuticals and / or cosmetics.

Embodiment 1

Embodiment 1 relates to a donor pump for cosmetics, as shown in Figure 1 - 3.

Legend to the pictures

Fig .: 1 Pump schematic diagram with three openings

Fig .: 2 Section of piston movement

Fig.: 3 check valves

Fig .: 4 A ball check valve as a separate part of the container

Fig .: 4 B Nozzle check valve as a separate part of the container

Fig .: 5 Hose-trunk-valve operating principle

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 pump head

2 pump shaft

3 pump housing

4 push button

5 discharge opening

6 delivery part

7 pump body

8 pistons

9 pump chamber

10 valve

11 ball valve

12 containers

13 spring

14 hose-trunk valve

15 check valve

16 support grids

17 valve flaps

18 hose-trunk valve (top view) identical to 14

19 tube

20 tube thread

Claims

claims A device for mixing and dispensing substances comprising a pump head (1), a pump shaft (2) and a pump housing (3), the pump housing (3) having at least two inlets designed to have connecting elements, whereby they are temporarily connectable with at least two arbitrary containers (12). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pump housing (3) has two inlets. 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pump housing (3) has three or more inlets. 4. Device according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the substances are liquids, solutions, emulsions, dispersions and creams or other viscous substances. 5. Device according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the container (12) tubes, cans, bags, bottles, cartridges. 6. Device according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the connecting elements are designed so that they are freely combinable with any containers (12). 7. Device according to one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the connecting elements are screw, Luer-look, bayonet or plug connections. 8. Device according to one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the connecting elements are designed as separate adapters. 9. Device according to one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the container (12) via the connecting elements directly to the pump chamber (9) are connectable. 10. Device according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the container (12) via the adapter to the pump chamber (9) are connectable. 11.Vorrichtung according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that check valves (10) on the container (12) or on the pump chamber (9) or are attached to the adapter. 12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the check valve (10) is a ball valve (11), a hose-whistling valve (14) or a check valve (15). 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the check valve (15) facing away from the flow direction, permeable, fixed structure (16) and one or more lying in the flow direction, movable valve flaps (17) and optionally other additives. 14. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the hose-whistle valve (14) facing away from the flow direction, permeable, solid structure (16) and one or more lying in the flow direction, movable hose-trunk (18) and optionally other additives consists. 15. Device according to one of claims 1-14, characterized in that the pump head (1) includes a push button (4) which includes a discharge opening (5) of a dispensing part (6). 16. Device according to one of claims 1-15, characterized in that the discharge opening (5) and / or the discharge part (6) is provided with additional elements, such as for foaming. 17. Device according to one of claims 1-16, characterized in that the pump shaft (2) includes a spring (13). 18. Device according to one of claims 1-17, characterized in that the pump body (7) comprises a pump chamber (9) and a piston (8). 19. Device according to one of claims 1-18, characterized in that the pump body (7) through the discharge part with the discharge opening (5) in the push button (4) is connected. 20. Device according to one of claims 1-19, characterized in that the piston (8) includes a valve (10). 2 I .Vorrichtung according to any one of claims 1-20, characterized in that the interior of the pump piston is advantageously designed by means of suitable Verwirbelungseinsätze or surface design for mixing the products. 22. Device according to one of claims 1-21, characterized in that the container (12) is a tube, a bag or a cartridge. 23. Device according to one of claims 1-22, characterized in that it is a metering pump, hand-operated pump, a dispenser, a container or an output or spray head. 24. A method for mixing and dispensing of substances, characterized in that in the containers (12) products are arbitrarily combined by the user by - The product containers are connected in any combination with the device - the push button is moved, this movement of the push button is transmitted to the delivery part of the pumps, - A negative pressure is generated and - By opening the valves, the products in mixed form in the pump chamber (9) sucked and - Be discharged via the discharge opening (5) of the dispensing part (6). 25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that a desired mixing ratio is achieved by selecting suitable diameters of the check valves and / or connecting pieces. 26. Use of a device according to claim 1 for mixing and dispensing substances. 27. Use of a device according to claim 1 for mixing and dispensing of two- or multi-component products, such as hair coloring products, adhesives, lacquers, personal care products, pharmaceuticals and / or cosmetics.