Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SPECIFICATION
TITLE
"DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR VISCOUS FLUIDS CONTAINED IN
FLERIBLE PACRAGESrr
BACRGROUD OF TSE INVENTION
Field of the Invention: The present invention relates to an
apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids and, more
particularly, to dispensing viscous fluids contained in
flexible packages.
In many industries, a thick or viscous fluid is
added to a mixture in small amounts. Because only a small
amount of the viscous liquid is required for each final
product, a container or reservoir of the viscous fluid must
be designed so that the viscous fluid is not exposed to air
for prolonged periods of time. Otherwise, the viscous fluid
may dry making it difficult to mix with other fluids or
liquids or resulting in the viscous fluid having to be
reprocessed or wasted.
Another problem associated with the dispensing of
2D viscous fluids is the tendency of the fluids to leave a
residue or crust at the dispenser outlet. The residue can
build up and potentially block the outlet or otherwise
interfere with the discharge of fluid through the outlet.
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In a number of industries, a single apparatus is utilized to dispense a large
number
of viscous fluids. Typical applications include the manufacture of hair dye or
paint where a
plurality of pigments may be used for a single product. Often, the container
of these
pigments is mounted on a rotating turntable that accommodates a plurality of
containers that
contain the fluid to be dispensed and that are disposed about the
circumference of the
turntable. A pump is typically associated with each container. One problem
associated with
this type of apparatus is the difficulty in changing an empty container while
the apparatus is
in use. This is particularly problematic when the operator has not been
specifically trained
to operate the apparatus. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved rotary
table type
apparatus which accommodates a plurality of containers that contain dispensing
fluid which
includes an improved configuration that makes it easier to change out empty
containers
quickly and efficiently.
Still another problem associated with the dispensing of viscous fluids is the
exposure
of the viscous fluid to air through the outlet. The invasion of air through
the outlet can result
in the build up of residue and crust inside the outlet which will interfere
with the flow of fluid
through the outlet and which could possibly result in blockage of the outlet.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved dispensing apparatus for viscous
fluids
which minimizes the exposure of the fluid to air during the dispensing of the
fluid and which
maintains the outlet port in a clean condition and substantially free of
residue.
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SU1~1RY OF THE INVENTION
A broad aspect of the invention provides an
apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids comprising: a
turntable rotatable around an axis of rotation: the
turntable being connected to a plurality of containers
containing the fluid to be dispensed, the turntable
comprising a circumference, the containers being spaced
about the circumference of the turntable: the turntable
being connected to a plurality of pumps, each pump being
releasably connected to one of the containers for dispensing
fluid therefrom, the pumps comprising connectors for
releasably connecting the containers to the pumps; the
apparatus further comprising a stationary actuator
positioned at the circumference of the turntable and being
movable to and from a first inoperative position wherein the
actuator is disengaged from all of the connectors and a
first operative position wherein the actuator is in
engagement with one of the connectors and a second operative
position wherein the actuator has disengaged said one of the
connectors from its respective container and said respective
container may be removed and exchanged for another
container.
Another broad aspect of the invention provides an
apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids comprising: a
turntable rotatable around an axis of rotation; the
turntable being connected to a plurality of containers for
containing the fluid to be dispensed, the turntable
comprising a circumference, the containers being spaced
about the circumference of the turntable; the turntable
further being connected to a plurality of pumps associated
with each container for dispensing fluid therefrom, the
pumps comprising connectors for releasably connecting the
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pumps to the containers, the pumps being disposed opposite
the turntable from connectors, the pumps being disposed
substantially parallel to the turntable and in a radial
direction.
A further broad aspect of the invention provides
an apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids comprising: a
turntable being connected to a plurality of containers for
containing the fluid to be dispensed, the containers being
spaced about the circumference of the turntable: the
turntable being connected to a plurality of pumps associated
with each container for dispensing fluid therefrom, the
pumps comprising connectors for releasably connecting the
pumps to the containers; the turntable being rotatably
supported by a plurality of rollers that engage the
turntable at its circumference and supporting the turntable
in the radial and axial directions.
The present invention provides a solution to the
aforenoted needs in the form of a fluid dispenser that
utilizes a flexible package as the initial reservoir of
viscous fluid. The flexible package is connected to a pump
by a conduit. The pump may be a piston-type pump having a
cylinder and a piston. A lower end of the piston is
disposed in the cylinder and an upper end of the piston
detachably engages an actuator.
In operation, the actuator moves the piston upward
in an intake stroke to draw fluid from the flexible package,
through the conduit.and into the cylinder. In a dispense
stroke, the actuator pushes the piston downward which forces
fluid out of the cylinder through an outlet. In the event
the supply of viscous fluid in the flexible package becomes
depleted, an intake stroke of the actuator will create a low
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pressure atmosphere within the cylinder, conduit and
flexible package. As a result of the low pressure
atmosphere, the piston is drawn downward and becomes
disengaged from the actuator. Hence, the dispenser has an
automatic shut off when the supply of viscous fluid in the
flexible package is depleted.
In an embodiment, the dispenser is equipped with a
buffer reservoir which is in communication with the flexible
package and, preferably, disposed vertically below the
flexible package so that the fluid flows downward through a
portion of the conduit into the buffer reservoir under the
force of gravity. During an intake stroke of the pump,
fluid may be drawn from the flexible package, the buffer
reservoir or both. In the event the flexible package is
empty and the buffer reservoir is full or at least partially
full, fluid is drawn from the buffer reservoir during an
intake stroke.
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In an embodiment, a valve is provided in the section of conduit extending
between the
flexible package and the buffer reservoir so that the flexible package may be
isolated. When
the valve is closed, an empty flexible package may be removed and replaced
with a full
flexible package, at the same time the pump is operating and withdrawing fluid
from the
buffer reservoir. Hence, the continuity of the dispense operation is not
interrupted when an
empty flexible package is replaced with a new full flexible package.
In an embodiment, the conduit comprises a T-section of conduit having a first
section
that extends between the flexible package and a buffer reservoir and a second
section
extending from the first section of conduit to the pump. In an embodiment, the
valve is
provided in the first section of conduit between the point where the second
section of conduit
is connected to the first section of conduit and the flexible package for
isolating the flexible
package and enabling an empty flexible package to be replaced with a full
flexible package
without interrupting the operation of the pump.
In an embodiment, an "active" buffer reservoir is provided along the conduit
between
the flexible package and the pump. In such an embodiment, the active buffer
reservoir
comprises a piston pump with a lower end of a piston disposed in a cylinder
and an upper
end of a piston disposed above the cylinder. A spring biases the piston upward
and viscous
fluid is disposed in the buffer cylinder below the buffer piston. In the event
the flexible
package becomes empty and a low pressure environment is created in the main
pump
cylinder, conduit, flexible package and buffer cylinder, the buffer piston
will be drawn
downward against the bias of the spring to supply fluid from the buffer
cylinder to the main
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pump.
In an embodiment, a valve is disposed in the conduit between the buffer
reservoir and
the flexible package so that the flexible package can be isolated during
operation of the main
pump which enables an empty flexible package to be removed and replaced with a
full
flexible package without interrupting operation of the main pump.
In an embodiment, a plurality of dispensers made in accordance with the
present
invention as set forth above are disposed on a rotary table along an outer
periphery of the
table. Depending on the location of the pumps and outlets, a receiving station
is disposed
below the table along the periphery of the table or along an inside portion of
the table for
receiving fluid dispensed from one of the dispensers. The table can then be
rotated to
position any one of the dispensers mounted to the table above the receiving
vessel.
In an embodiment, the outlets of the dispensers of the present invention
include a
scraper device that is pivotally connected to the outlet and which scrapes the
outlet at the
opening through which the fluid passes thereby removing film and residue that
accumulates
on the outlet opening after viscous fluid is passed therethrough.
In an embodiment, the outlets of the dispensers of the present invention
further
include a closure that is pivotally attached to the outlet which includes a
main body for
sealingly engaging the hole in the outlet through which the fluid passes. In
an embodiment,
a scraper is mounted onto the main body of the closure which scrapes the
outlet at the
opening or hole through which the fluid passes resulting in a removal of dried
fluid residue
or crust which may have accumulated on the dispenser outlet.
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In an embodiment, the present invention also relates to an apparatus for
dispensing
viscous fluids, comprising a turntable rotatable around an axis of rotation, a
plurality of
containers containing the fluid to be dispensed and connected to the turntable
in positions
spaced about the circumference of the turntable, and a plurality of pumps
associated with
each container for dispensing fluid therefrom and attached to the turntable.
The pumps each
have connectors for releasably connecting a container to each pump.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides an apparatus which is
characterized
by a stationary actuator positioned at the circumference of the turntable and
being movable
to and from a first inoperative position disengaged from the turntable, a
first operative
position in engagement with one of the connectors in which the connector is
connected to
the respective container, and a second operative position, in which the
connector is
disengaged from the container and the container may be removed and exchanged
for
another container.
Due to this feature according to the invention, it is possible to use a single
actuator
for several containers. By rotating the turntable, the container to be
exchanged is positioned
in front of the actuator and by operating the actuator, it is brought into
engagement with the
connector and then moved to such position that the container can be removed
and replaced.
It is preferred therein that the movement of the actuator to and from the
inoperative
position and the first and second operative positions is done by one
continuous manipulation
of an actuating element, such as a handle.
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In this manner, the operator does not have to do anything special to operate
the
actuator in two different ways. One conceivable embodiment to accomplish this
is to provide
the connector with a toothed rack and the actuator with a toothed ring, and
wherein the
toothed ring and the actuating element are coupled through a transmission
mechanism
transmitting a substantially continuous movement of the actuating element into
a consecutive
translating and rotating movement of the toothed ring.
In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the connector
includes
a nipple which is insertable into an opening of the container, the nipple
being slidable in
longitudinal direction of a holder, the holder being provide with a slit
extending in transverse
direction of the holder in order to introduce and fix a flange of the
container to the holder with
said opening aligned with the nipple.
In this embodiment, the operator only has to slide the container with its
flange out of
the slit, and then another container into the slit of the holder in order to
exchange the
containers.
A further improvement according to the invention is that the pumps are
provided on
the side of the turntable opposite to the side where the connectors are
positioned, the pumps
extending substantially parallel to the turntable in radial direction.
By positioning the pumps on the other side than the connectors, the pumps do
not
interfere with the containers so that there is a maximum available space on
the turntable
enabling the use of large containers and thereby lengthening the time between
exchanges
of containers. Positioning the pumps parallel to the turntable allows for a
compact structure
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of the apparatus.
It is favorable if the turntable is rotatably supported by a plurality of
rollers engaging
the turntable at its circumference and supporting it in radial and axial
directions.
Supporting the turntable at its circumference avoids the necessity of a shaft
in the
center of the turntable which increases the maximum available space for the
pumps. If one
or more of the rollers is movable to and from the turntable, then the mounting
and
demounting of a turntable is facilitated.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the pumps each include a valve
which
is movable between a position in which the pump may suck fluid from the
container into a
dosing reservoir and a position in which the pump may dispense fluid from the
dosing
reservoir, the valve being operable by a central gripper which has an
operating stroke, the
ends of which being determined by sensors.
This embodiment simplifies the apparatus and ensures an accurate dispensing of
fluid
from the containers.
It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide an improved
dispenser
for dispensing fluids provided in flexible packages.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a dispenser for
dispensing fluids provided in flexible packages which enables empty flexible
packages or
partially empty flexible packages to be removed and replaced with full
flexible packages
without interrupting the operation of the dispenser pump.
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Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a dispenser for
dispensing viscous fluid from flexible packages that limits the exposure of
the fluid to ambient
air.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved
dispensing station for dispensing viscous fluid from flexible packages.
Still another advantage of the present invention is that it provides an
improved closure
for an outlet of a dispenser of viscous fluid which removes dried fluid and
residue from the
outlet.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved
apparatus for dispensing a variety of viscus fluids contained in flexible
packages.
And another object of the present invention is that it provides an improved
rotary
turntable-type apparatus for dispensing a variety of viscus fluids contained
in flexible
packages and with an improved configuration for replacing an empty package
with a full
package.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon
reading the
following detailed description and appended claims, and upon reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference should now be
made
to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings
and described
below by way of an examples of the invention.
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Figure 1 is a partly schematic elevational view of a dispenser made in
accordance with
the present invention.
Figure 2 is an elevational view of the dispenser first shown in Figure 1 with
the
actuator detached from the piston of the pump.
Figure 3 is a partly schematic elevational view of another dispenser made in
accordance with the present invention,
Figure 4 is a partly schematic elevational view of another dispenser made in
accordance with the present invention.
Figure 5 is a plan view of a rotary dispensing station made in accordance with
the
present invention.
Figure 6 is a plan view of another rotary dispensing station made in
accordance with
the present invention.
Figure 7 is a bottom view of a closure for an outlet of a dispenser made in
accordance
with the present invention, particularly illustrating the closure in the open
position.
Figure 8 is another bottom view of the closure first shown in Figure 7 between
the
open and closed positions.
Figure 9 is another bottom plan view of the closure first shown in Figure 7 in
the
closed position.
Figure 10 is an elevational view of an outlet of a fluid dispenser equipped
with a
scraper.
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Figure 11 is another elevational view of the outlet and scraper shown in
Figure 10 with
the scraper shown engaging the outlet.
Figure 12 is another elevational view of the outlet and scraper shown in
Figure 10
particularly illustrating the scraper just after it has engaged the outlet.
Figure 13 is a bottom view of the outlet and scraper shown in Figure 10.
Figure 14 is a bottom view of the outlet and scraper shown in Figure 11.
Figure 15 is a bottom view of the outlet and scraper shown in Figure 12.
Figure 16 is a side view, partially sectioned, of a turntable of the apparatus
according
to the invention, wherein several parts have been omitted.
Figure 16a is an enlarged partial view of the apparatus shown in Figure 16.
Figure 17 is a top view of the turntable of Figure 16 with all container
supports shown.
Figure 18 is a larger scale top view of the turntable with only the support
means for
the turntable shown.
Figures 19a-19d are sectional views of the pumping arrangement of the
apparatus in
Figure 16, shown in four different positions to illustrate the operation of
the pump.
Figure 20 is a side view, partially sectioned, of the operating means for the
pumping
arrangement of Figure 19.
Figures 21, 22 and 23 are a side view, cross section and front view,
respectively, of
the actuator for actuating the connector in order to exchange containers.
Figure 24 is an explosive view of the actuator of Figures 21-23 on a larger
scale.
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Figures 25a-25e are sectional views corresponding to Figure 22 illustrating
the
operation of the actuator through five different positions.
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and
that the
embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines,
diagrammatic
representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are
not necessary
for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details
difficult to
perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the
invention is
not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Turning first to Figure 1, a dispenser 10 is illustrated which connects a
flexible
packaging or bag 11 that contains fluid to a piston-type pump 12. The conduit
13 connects
the flexible package 11 to the pump 12. The conduit 13 is attached to the
packaging 11 with
a fitting 14 that makes it easy to connect and disconnect the package 11 from
the conduit 13.
The pump 12 includes a piston 15 having a lower end (not shown) disposed
within the
cylinder 16 and an upper end 17 that is detachably connected to an actuator
arm 18 which
moves the piston 15 upward during an intake stroke and downward during a
discharge
stroke. Fluid is discharged through the outlet 19.
In operation, a flexible package 11 is mounted onto the conduit 13 as shown in
Figure
1. The package 11 is full of viscous fluid to be dispensed through the outlet
19. The actuator
arm 18 draws the piston 15 upward during an intake stroke which causes fluid
to flow from
the package 11, through the conduit 13 and into the cylinder 16. During a
discharge stroke,
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the actuator arm 18 pushes the piston 15 downward causing the lower end (not
shown) of
the piston 15 to force fluid out of the cylinder 16 and through the outlet 19.
In the event the package 11 becomes empty or nearly empty, the upward movement
of the actuator arm 18 during an intake stroke results in the separation of
the actuator arm
18 from the upper end 17 of the piston 15 as shown in Figure 2. Specifically,
when the
package 11 is empty and an intake stroke is carried out, a low pressure or
near vacuum
environment is created in the cylinder 16, conduit 13 and package 11. This low
pressure
environment causes the piston 15 to be drawn downward into the cylinder 16
thereby
resulting in separation between the upper end 17 of the piston 15 and the
actuator arm 18
as shown in Figure 2.
To alleviate the problem of the package 11 running out of fluid, a buffer may
be
provided as shown in Figure 3. Specifically, a conduit 21 is provided that is
T-shaped with
a first section 22 connecting the package 11 with the package or buffer
reservoir 23. A
second section 24 connects the first section 22 to the pump 12. In the
embodiment
illustrated in Figure 3, the buffer reservoir 23 is made of a material similar
to the package 11
and is connected to the conduit section 22 with a fitting 25.
The operation of the dispenser 10a illustrated in Figure 3 is as follows.
Preferably, the
buffer reservoir 23 is disposed vertically below the flexible package 11. This
arrangement
will allow fluid to flow under the force of gravity in the direction of the
arrow 26 through the
conduit section 22 and down into the buffer reservoir 23. During an intake
stroke, fluid may
flow from either the package 11 or the buffer reservoir 23, or both, through
the conduit
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section 24 and into the cylinder 16. In the event all of the fluid has
migrated from the
package 11 to the buffer reservoir 23, only fluid from the reservoir 23 will
travel through the
conduit section 22 and conduit section 24 into the cylinder 16 during an
intake stroke. When
the package 11 is empty, the valve 27 disposed in the conduit section 22 may
be closed
thereby isolating the package 11. The package 11 may then be removed and
replaced with
a full package 11 without interrupting the operation of the pump 12.
Accordingly, assuming
the package 11 is replaced prior to the exhaustion of the fluid from the
buffer reservoir 23,
there will be no interruption in the operation of the dispenser 10a and the
upper end 17 of the
piston 15 will not become disengaged from the actuator arm 18 (not shown in
Figure 3; see
Figures 1 and 2).
A different buffer system is illustrated in Figure 4. Specifically, a flexible
package 11
is connected to a pump 12 by way of a conduit 13a which differs from the
conduit 13 shown
in Figures 1 and 2 due to the placement of the valve 27 adjacent to the
package 11 and the
connection of the buffer system 30 between the package 11 and the pump 12. The
buffer
system 30 shown in Figure 4 is an active buffer as opposed to the passive
buffer reservoir
23 shown in Figure 3. The buffer system 30 comprises a piston pump 31 which
includes a
piston 32, the lower end of which (not shown) is disposed inside a cylinder
33. A spring 34
is disposed between the cylinder 33 and the upper end 35 of the piston 32. The
spring
biases the piston 32 upward and the cylinder 33 is substantially full of fluid
which is held in
reserve until the package 11 becomes empty or near empty due to the biasing
effect of the
spring 34 on the piston 32. When the package 11 becomes empty, a low pressure
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environment is created in the cylinder 16 of the pump 12, the conduit 13a and
the package
11. This low pressure environment causes fluid to be drawn out of the cylinder
33 and the
suction effect eventually draws the piston 32 downward as the buffer system 30
now
provides fluid to the pump 12 during an intake stroke of the pump 12. When
fluid is being
drawn from the buffer system 30, the valve 27 may be closed and the empty
package 11 may
be replaced with a full package 11. After replacement of the package 11, the
valve may then
be reopened to draw fluid from the package 11 into the conduit 13a during an
intake stroke
of the pump 12.
Preferably, a signal in the form of a contact switch 36 or other suitable
signal is
provided when the buffer system 30 of the dispenser 10b is activated. Then,
the valve 27
may be closed automatically or manually and an operator may be notified that
it is time to
replace the package 11. Any suitable signal or alarm may be provided. Further,
a signal or
alarm may be provided for the passive buffer system shown in Figure 3 which
alerts an
operator as to when fluid is being drawn only from the buffer reservoir 23 as
opposed to the
flexible package 11. Upon recognition of the alarm or signal, the operator
will know that it
is safe to close the valve 27 as shown in Figure 3 and replace the flexible
package 11 with
a fresh package. A controller (not shown) may be used to notify the operator
to change the
main package 11. A software program may be employed to keep track of the
amounts of
viscous fluid dispensed. The software program may also alert the operator as
to when the
supply of fluid in the flexible package 11 and/or buffer reservoir 23 becomes
depleted.
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A plurality of dispense systems like those shown at 10 in Figures 1 and 2, 10a
in
Figure 3 and 10b in Figure 4 may be mounted onto a rotary table 40 as shown in
Figure 5.
The table 40 may be rotated past a collection vessel 41 which can receive
incremental
amounts of fluid from any one of the dispensers 10 mounted to the table 40.
The system 50
and 50a as shown in Figures 5 and 6 are particularly useful for those
applications where
small amounts of fluid are drawn from the packages 11 during the manufacture
of a mixture,
such as paint, ink or other colorant. The table may be rotated so that precise
amounts of
material may be drawn out from the packages 11 and added to the containment
vessel 41
in an efficient method. With respect to the system 50a shown in Figure 6, the
containment
vessel 41 a may be disposed underneath a central portion of the table 40a as
opposed to the
outer periphery as shown in Figure 5. The outlets for the dispensers 10 will
typically be
disposed below the rotary tables 40 and 40a.
Various configurations of the outlet 19 are shown in Figures 7 through 15.
Referring
to Figures 7-9, a closure 52 is attached to the pump 12 by way of a pivotal
bracket 53. The
closure 52 includes a main body 54 which accommodates a sealing ring 55 that
is disposed
over the outlet 19 as shown in Figure 9 when the closure 52 is in the closed
position.
Mounted to the main body 54 is a scraper bar 56 which scrapes the outlet 19
and removes
residue and dried fluid from the outlet 19 during each closure thereby keeping
the outlet 19
in a clean, relatively residue free condition. As noted above, viscous fluids
can dry and coat
the outlet ultimately clogging the hole 57 through which the fluid passes.
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Turning to Figures 10-15, a scraper 58 may be provided which pivots across the
hole
57 in the outlet 19 through which the fluid 60 passes. Like the scraper 56
shown in Figures
7-9, the scraper 58 keeps the hole 57 and outlet 19 in a clean, relatively
residue free
condition and prevents clogging.
The buffer systems shown at 23 and 30 may be combined. Also, the buffer
systems
may be utilized in the rotary systems 50 and 50a shown in Figures 5-6.
Further, the outlet
closure configurations shown at 52 and 58 in Figures 7-15 may also be
incorporated into any
of the dispensers shown at 10 in Figures 1 and 2, 10a in Figure 3 or 10b in
Figure 4. Still
further, pumps other than the piston-type pumps 12 and 31 may be employed and
the
actuation system may be varied to include configurations other than the
actuating arm shown
at 18 in Figures 1 and 2. These and other alternatives are considered
equivalents and within
the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Figures 16-25 show an apparatus 100 for dispensing viscous fluids, such as
hair dye
contained in containers, in particular, flexible packages or bags 101. The
apparatus is used
to mix dosages from several packages 101 in order to create a hair dye of a
particular recipe.
In order to obtain an accurate mixture of hair dye from several containers,
each containing
a certain dye color, it is necessary that the apparatus is able to dispense
the fluid in an
accurate way.
The apparatus according to the invention comprises a horizontal turntable 102
rotatable about a vertical axis. The turntable 102 does not have a shaft in
the center of the
table, but is supported by support rollers 103, 104 (Figure 18), the rollers
103 thereof being
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fixed and being only rotatable, whereas the rollers 104 are journaled on a
slide which can be
moved to and from the rollers 103. The object thereof is to engage the
circumference of the
turntable 102 in order to support it in axial and radial direction, or to
disengage from the
turntable 102 in order to release it for demounting purposes. In principal, it
would also be
possible to have only three rollers, one or two of which being movable.
In this case, the turntable 102 is adapted to contain twenty packages 101
spaced
around the circumference of the turntable 102. For each package 101, there is
provided a
connector 106 having a nipple 107 adapted to frictionally engage into an
opening of the
package 101. For this purpose, the flexible package 101 has a rigid dispensing
portion 108
through which a dispensing opening 109 extends and which may engage around the
nipple
107. The dispensing portion 108 includes a flat flange 110 and its free end
and this flange
110 may be inserted into a space 111 in a holder 112 of the connector 106. A
slit 113 is
provided to allow passage of the neck of the dispensing portion 108 of the
package 101. It
will be described later on now the nipple 107 and dispensing opening 109 of
the package
101 are connected to each other. The dispensing portion 108 of the package 101
is
connected to a storage portion 114 of the package 101. Such storage portion
114 is made
of plastic foil and may be kept upright on the connector 106 by means of a
bottom support
115 and side supports 116 of the connector 106. The side of the storage
portion 114 of the
flexible package 101 resting on the bottom support 115 and the opposite side
of the package
101 is such that there are no dead spaces where fluid can be left as residue.
During tests,
a residue of maximally 1 % remained within the package 101 after emptying it.
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Figures 16, 19 and 20 show a pumping arrangement 117 connected to each
connector 106 and adapted to suck fluid from the respective package 101 and to
press it out
in order to dispense the fluid in an accurate dosage. The pumping arrangement
117
including a piston pump comprising a cylinder 118 as dosing reservoir and a
piston 119
adapted to reciprocate within the cylinder 118 and being guided and controlled
by a piston
rod 120 carrying a driving lip 121 at its free end adapted to be engaged by a
drive means to
be described later on.
The cylinder 118 of the pumping arrangement 117 is connected to the nipple 107
of
the connector 106 through a valve block 122. A pin shaped valve body 123 is
slidably
arranged within the valve block 122 and is slidable between a first position
(Figures 19a, 19b)
opening a suction channel 124 and closing a dispensing channel 125, and a
second position
(Figures 19c, 19d) in which the valve body 123 closes the suction channel 124
and opens
the dispensing channel 125. The valve and channel arrangements are of
conventional
design.
The valve body 123 is operated by means of a control lever 126 which is
pivotable
around a horizontal pivot 127 and slidably engages with its forked end a pin
128 attached to
the valve body 123 and extending through a vertical slot 129 in the valve
block 122. The pin
128 engages in slots 130 on either side of the valve block 122 allowing
movement between
the control lever 126 and the pin 128 during vertical displacement of the pin
128 to move the
valve body 123 to and from the first and second positions. The end of the
control lever 126
remote from the pin slot connection 128, 130 can be engaged by a gripper 131
of an
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operating means which will be described hereafter (see Figure 20).
Figure 20 shows the operating means for the valve body 123 and pumping
arrangement 117, the operating means including a linearly movable pump gripper
131
drivable by means of a drive spindle 132, and a rotatable valve gripper 133
which is rotatable
around a horizontal pivot 134 and is driven by a crank mechanism 135. The
crank shaft 136
of the crank mechanism 135 cooperates with a sensor 137 to determine the
beginning and
end of the stroke of the gripper 133. The beginning and end of the stroke of
the crank
mechanism 135 are near the top and bottom dead center of the crank mechanism
135 so
that small variations in the start and end positions of the crank shaft have
minimal effect on
the start and end positions of the valve gripper 133.
The operation of the valve and pumping arrangements is as follows.
If the computer of the apparatus (not shown) has determined the dosage of a
fluid to
be dispensed from a particular package 101, the turntable is rotated by its
drive means until
the respective package 101 is positioned in line with the operating means. The
grippers 131
and 133 thereof come into engagement with the driving lip 121 and the end of
the control
lever 126, respectively. The piston 119 and valve body 123 are in the
positions according
to Figure 19a. Depending on the dosage to be dispensed, the piston 119 is
displaced by the
pump gripper 131 to the extent that the dosage to be dispensed is sucked into
the cylinder
118 which serves as dosing reservoir.
In Figure 19b, the piston 119 has been moved to its maximally displaced
position so
that the whole cylinder has been filled with fluid. Then, the valve gripper
133 is rotated such
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that it moves the control lever 126 to the position according to Figure 19c an
hence, the valve
body 123 is moved from its position allowing suction of fluid to its position
allowing dispensing
of fluid. It is shown that the valve body 123 closes the suction channel 124
and releases the
dispensing channel 125. Thus, if the piston 119 is now moved to its original
starting position,
the fluid is dispensed through a lower dispensing opening of the valve
arrangement, for
example into a mixing container in which the hair dye colors from the various
packages 101
are brought together and mixed.
The computer software accurately registers the original fluid content of a
container and
the fluid dosages dispensed so that it is known if a container is empty or
almost empty. The
computer signals to the operator when the contents of a package are not
sufficient for a
dosage to be dispensed and the apparatus may be arranged such that the
operator may
choose between exchanging the almost empty container for a new container 101
right away
or using for a dosage a last portion of the almost empty package 101 together
with a first
portion of a new full package 101. If an empty package 101 should be removed,
the nipple
107 of the connector 106 should be extracted from the dispensing opening 109
of the
package.101 in order, to allow the flange 110 of the dispensing portion 108 of
the package
101 to be moved laterally from the space 111 in the connector 106. For this
purpose, as
shown in Figures 21-25, there is provided an actuator 138 including a handle
139 as
actuating element and by manipulating this handle 139 the holder 112 will be
engaged and
will be displaced upwardly thereby displacing the package 101 and the
dispensing portion
108 thereof upwardly with respect to the stationary nipple 107. As a result,
the dispensing
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opening 109 and the nipple will become disengaged thereby enabling the
dispensing portion
108 of the package 101 to be moved laterally without interference by the
nipple 107. After
a new package 101 has been positioned with its flange 110 in the space 111 of
the holder
112, the handle 139 can be moved back and the new package 101 will be
connected to this
connector 106.
Since there is only one actuator 138 for all connectors 106 and packages 101,
the
turntable 102 should be able to move freely with respect to the actuator 138
in order to bring
the package 101 to be exchanged in front of the actuator 138. For this
purpose, the actuator
138 should a disengaged from the turntable during rotation of the turntable.
When the
connector 106 is positioned in front of the actuator 138, the actuator should
be brought into
engagement with the connector 106 and should be able to move it up and down.
Thus, the
actuator 138 should be able to perform different operations/movements and for
this purpose
there is provided a special transmission mechanism 140 converting a
substantially
continuous movement of the handle 139 into separate movements of its driving
means, in
this case consisting of a toothed ring 141 of the actuator 138 adapted to
cooperate with a
toothed rack provided on the outside of the holder 112 of the connector 106.
Figures 21-23 illustrate the actuator 138, whereas the exploded view of Figure
24
shows the various components thereof. The actuator 138 comprises a housing 143
including
side plates 144 and upper and lower mounting plates 145 and 147. The handle
139 is fork-
shaped on its lower side with an auxiliary part 147. The handle parts 139 and
147 are
connected to the toothed ring 141 through torsion springs 148 the ends of
which engage
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holes in the respective facing sides of the toothed ring 141 and the handle
parts 139 and
147. The toothed ring 141 is mounted on a shaft 149 and is rotatable through a
limited angle
with respect to the shaft 149 which is determined by the engagement of a pin
150 protruding
from the shaft 149 into a circumferential slot 151 extending circumferentially
in the toothed
ring 141 (see Figure 22).
Both the shaft 149 and the handle parts 139 and 147 have a slotted hole 152,
153,
respectively. The slotted holes 152 (Figure 22), 153 (Figure 24) extending
axially are aligned
with each other and are kept in relative position by fastening screws 154
fixing the handle
139 and the shaft 149 to each other. Extending through the slotted hole 152,
153 is an inner
shaft 155 extending between the side plates 144 of the housing 143 and being
supported
thereby in a fixed manner. The handle 139, 147 is also connected to the side
plates 144
through a pin slot connection including a rotatable pin 156 and a curved slot
157 in the side
plates 144. The rotatable pin 156 is attached to the handle 139, 147
excentrically spaced
from the slotted hole 153 therein, whereas the curved slot 157 includes a
first slot portion
157' extending substantially in a direction to the mounting hole for the inner
shaft 155 and
a second slot portion 157" extending concentrically around the mounting hole
for the inner
shaft 155.
The operation of the actuator 138 will be described with reference to the
various
positions of the actuator 138 as shown in Figure 25.
In Figure 25a, the actuator 138 is in the inoperative position with the handle
139 in an
upright position. This position is maintained by leaf springs 158 attached on
the lower
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mounting plate 146 of the housing 143 and engaging a recess 159 in the handle
parts 139
and 147. The inner shaft 155 of the actuator 138 is at a first end of the
horizontally extending
slotted hole 152, 153 facing the connector 106. In this position, the toothed
ring 141 is
disengaged from the toothed rack 142 on the holder 112. Thus, in this position
the turntable
is able to be rotated without interference with the actuator 138. In Figure
25a, one connector
106 is positioned in front of the actuator 138.
When the handle is pulled away from the turntable 102 and the connector 106, a
rotational force is exerted on the shaft 149 as well. However, the handle 139
is unable to
rotate around the inner shaft 155 since the pins 156 of the handle parts 139,
147 engaging
in the slot portion 157' of the curved slots 157 prevent such rotation. The
only possible
movement of the handle 139 is a forward movement in which the slotted hole
152, 153 is
moved with respect to the inner shaft 155 and when the inner shaft 155 has
arrived at the
second end of the slotted hole 152, 153 remote from the connector 106, the
toothing of the
toothed ring 141 has come into engagement with the toothing of the toothed
rack 142 of the
connector 106 and the pins 156 have left the slot portion 157' and have
arrived in the
concentric slot portion 157" of the curved slot 157, so that the pins 156
would now be able
to perform a circular motion around the inner shaft 155.
In Figure 25b, the handle 139, 147 is now able to rotate around the shaft 155
which
is in the center of the handle and in the center of curvature of the slot
portion 157". The
handle 139, 147 will rotate relative to the toothed ring, thereby tensioning
the torsion springs
148, until the pin 150 in the shaft 149 has reached the end wall of the slot
151 in the toothed
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ring 141. The protruding part of the toothed ring 141 facing away from the
toothing is now
released from the wall of the housing 43, so that the toothed ring is now able
to follow the
rotation of the handle 139, 147.
From the position of Figure 25b to the position of Figure 25e, the shaft 146
and,
through the pin 150 engaging the end wall of the slot 151, the toothed ring
141 are rotated
with the handle 139. Due to the engagement between the toothed rack 142 and
the toothed
ring 141, the connector 106 is moved upwardly to such an extend that the
nipple 107 is
disengaged from the dispensing opening 109 of the flexible package 101 so that
this flexible
package 101 which is empty may be removed and may be replaced by a full
package. This
is then engaged with its dispensing opening 109 over the nipple 107 by moving
the handle
139 back to the position of Figure 25a. Due to the engagement of the nipple
107 into the
dispensing portion 108 of the package, it pushes away a self closing valve of
the package,
so that the package opens and closed automatically upon displacement of the
nipple into or
out of the dispensing portion 108 of the package 101.
From the above description, it is apparent that the objects of the present
invention
have been achieved. While only certain embodiments have been set forth,
alternative
embodiments and various modifications will be apparent from the above
description to those
skilled in the art. These and other alternatives are considered equivalents
and within the
spirit and scope of the present invention.
