Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
PCT/AU03/00761
CA 02488820 2004-12-07 10 lVlay 2004
P:~WPDOCS~LMBV.,cata MiIla~SpecificaiwtsW 879x37 pncoc-5 May. 30oa
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DISPENSER DEVICE
The present invention relates generally to materials handling and in
particular to
apparatus for dispensing materials in fine powder form, such as for example
toner.
Known methods of dispensing materials in powdered form incorporate funnel-
shaped devices, wide at their inlet and narrow at their outlet, and generally
utilise gravity
for dispensing material. However, fine powders in these systems can often form
blockages
and jam in the funnel, stopping material flow. Agitating means are used to
unblock the
funnel or prevent blockages, but require energy, labour, maintenance, and may
be noisy
and costly.
The present invention seeks to alleviate at least some of the abovementioned
disadvantages.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
dispenser
device including: a dispenser device body having an inlet end and an outlet
end; a transport
passage arranged therebetween, wherein the cross-sectional internal dimension
at the inlet
end of the transport passage are smaller than the cross-sectional internal
dimension at the
outlet end of the transport passage; at least two sealing connector sections,
located at or
near the inlet and outlet ends respectively, the device when in use being
sealingly
connectable with filler vessels and unfilled vessels respectively.
The arrangement is such that the sealable connection between said dispenser
device
and said unfilled vessel provides a substantially air tight seal so that air
within the unfilled
vessel is displaced by powder from the filler vessel, and passes through the
transport
passage during a filling operation. This provides for a significant advantage
in that the air
causes agitation of the material within the passage, reducing the chances of
clogging and
blockage.
The sealable connecting section may be any suitable shape, and may take
AMENDED SHEET
IPEA/AU
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advantage of known sealing methods, including threaded portions, foam or
rubber ships
and light friction fits. It may also take the. form of a flat or contoured
plate, or indeed any
shaped face wluch cowesponds with another surface to reduce leakage of dust
particles
during dispensing from vessel to vessel. A plurality of sizes and shapes of
seal may be
incorporated on one apparatus, making one apparatus transferable across
differing brands
and styles of vessel, using a plurality of discrete sealing sizes, or tapered
sections.
The transport passage may include rounded shoulders at its inlet end. In one
form
of the invention, the inner surface of the imier wall of the transport passage
is preferably a
continuous generally smooth tapered configuration, tapering ouW Jardly from
the inlet end
towards the outlet end.
The contour fornled by the inner wall of the transport passage may differ from
the
contow formed by the exterior wall of the transport passage. The exterior wall
of the
transport passage may be shaped to correspond to the inlet or access portion
of the unfilled
vessel, thereby inc.oiporating the sealable corrector portion.
The dispenser device body may be constructed from any suitable material, such
as
for example, any suitable polymer, machinable or mouldable in injection
moulding
processes, or from suitable metals or alloys. The device may include one or
more parts,
and may be constricted fi~om one or more materials, for example, the. sealing
means as
mentioned above, may be constricted from foam or rubber, operatively connected
to other
parts of the device.
?s Locating means may be provided for locating with a retaining portion on the
unfilled vessel. In one form the locating means is in the foam of one or more.
projections
mounted on the external periphery of the dispenser device, which locates into
or
tmderneath a holding ledge, for maintaining sealing contact between dispenser
device and
the unfilled vessel.
Clips may be used to retain the device against the unfilled vessel. The clips
may
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engage the locating means and assist in maintaining sealing contact bet<veen
dispenser
device and unfilled vessel.
The filler vessel and unfilled vessel axe preferably sealed, except for their
respective filling outlet and filling inlet, This allows the air transfe.iTed
from the unfilled
vessel to the filler vessel during the filling operation to be contained
within the vessels.
Prefewed embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, and in those drawings:
Figure 1 shows section views (a), (c), and (e) and perspective views (b), (d)
and (f)
of tlwee example embodiments according to the present invention.
Figure 2 shows section view (a), plan view (b) and perspective view (c) of
another
embodiment according to the present invention,
Figure 3 shows section view (a), plan view (b) and perspective view (c) of yet
another embodiment according to the present invention,
?0 Figure 4 shows plan view (a) and perspective view (b) of another example
embodiment according to the present invention.
Figure 5 shows section view (a) and perspective view (b) of yet another
embodiment of the present invention,
Figures 6 - 10 show examples of different ways that the dispenser devices may
intewelate in order to transfer material from filling vessel to unfilled
vessel,
Refernng to Figures 1 - 5, like numerals have been used to describe like
parts.
Thus, referring to Figure 1, there is shown a dispensing apparatus generally
indicated at 10,
including an inlet end 14, an outlet end 16, an enclosed transport passage 12,
an inlet
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sealable connector section 18 and outlet sealable connector section 30.
Referring to Figures 1 (a) and 1 (b), in the form shown the. transport passage
12 is a
hollow cylinder. Its internal diameter at its inlet end 22 is smaller than the
internal
diameter at its outlet end 16, and the internal wall 24 forms an ourivardly
tapering tube.
The sealable connector sections 18 and 30 take the form of threaded
connections 20 (inlet)
and 26 (outlet).
Referring to Figures 1 (c) and 1 (d), as stated above, like numerals denote.
like parts,
however, some points of difference include: the outlet sealable connector
section 130 does
not include threaded cotmeetion as in Figure 1 (a) and (b), but a push fit
which includes
protntding rings 126. A taper in the external wall 130 of the transport
passage 112 at 12S
allows location and sealing of the device in the opening of an unfilled vessel
(not shown).
The taper allows one or more opening sizes to be accommodated.
Refernng to Figures 1(e) and 1(f1 there is shown a similar embodiment to
Figures
1(c) and (d), however, rather than a sealable connector section suitable for a
small range of
opening sizes, Figures 1(e) and (f) show an embodiment suitable for sealing
three discrete
opening sizes over a larger range. That is, external walls 230 of the
transport passage 212
gradually accommodate for larger variations in aperture size in the unfilled
vessel, where
discrete increases in external diameter 228, 229 and 231 are formed into the
shaft of the
transport passage 212. From the inlet end of the interior wall of the
transport passage the.
rounded shoulders 222 widen rapidly to point 225 and then the wall 224 of the
transport
passage '' 12 lightly ourivardly tapers to the outlet.
Refernng to Figure 2 there is shown an embodiment according to the present
invention wherein the outlet sealable. comiector section 330 takes the forni
of a plate 332
with an arcuate section 335 to correspond with the inlet of a particular
unfilled vessel (not
shown). The plate 332 includes a foam adhered to its underside. (not shown),
substantially
at its perimeter, to fiu-ther improve the sealing effect of the plate 332. The
transport
passage 312 is essentially constant diameter throughout or lightly outwardly
tapering,
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assisting material flow. The inlet section 314 is sealed not with a threaded
section as with
previous example embodiments but with a simple push-fit system, incorporating
essentially parallel internal walls at 320.
Retaining means are provided at 350 u~ the form of projections or lugs 351 and
352. These retaiang means 350 engage with corresponding holding means (not
shown) on
the unfilled vessel (not shown).
Further retaining means 350 in the form of a drop-down plate section 353 is
used in
conjunction with clip (not shown) to hold the dispenser device against the
unfilled vessel
(not shown).
The embodiment shown in Figure 3 is similar to that shown in Figure 2 however
thexe is no arcuate section, simply a plate shown at 432. Again, foam (not
show)
improves the sealing qualities of the plate 432.
Similar retaining means as in Figure 2 are shown in Figure 3 at 450, and 453.
Refernng to Figure 4 there is shown another example embodiment according to
the
present invention wherein the outlet sealable connector section 530 is located
at the outer
face of a triangular plate, corresponding to the inlet of an unfilled vessel
(not shown). A
very short transport passage 512 is employed, and the material quickly flows
from the inlet
side S 14 to the outlet side 516 of the apparatus.
Refernng to Figi.~re 5 there is shown an embodiment similar to those shown in
Figures 2 and 3, however the plate 632 is angled. Other aspects of the
embodiment are the
same as those shown in Figures 2 and 3, with like numerals denoting like
parts.
The invention may operate singly or in combination with other example
embodiments. For example, a filling vessel may be screwed into inlet end 114
or 214, of
devices 110 and 210 respectively, and the outlet ends 116 and 216 thereof may
be push-
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fitted into the openings of unfilled vessels (not shown), Once the filling
vessel is inverted,
flow occurs. Agitation is not required during flow, however some small
agitation may be
required before inversion and flow occurs.
Other combinations may be made, for example, a filling vessel (not shown) may
be
screwed into the inlet end 214 of device 210, The outlet 216 of vessel 210 may
then be
push-fitted into inlet ends 314, 514, or 614, The corresponding outlet ends
316, 516, 616
are then sealably connected to the openings of unfilled vessels (not shown),
Still, other combinations may be made: for example, a filling vessel (not
shown)
may be screwed into the inlet end 114 of device 110. The outlet 116 of vessel
110 may
then be push-fitted into inlet end 414. The corresponding outlet ends 416, are
then
sealably connected to the opening of unfilled vessel (not shown),
In ftu-ther ,combinations, the outlet end of a filling vessel (not shown) may
be
screwed into the inlet end 14 of device 10. The outlet end 16 is then screwed
into the inlet
114 or 214 of devices 110 or 210 respectively to form assemblies 650 (Figure
6(iv)) and
660 (Figure 6(v)),
The outlet end 116 and 216 of assembly 660 (Figure 6(v)) or 650 (Figure 6(iv))
may be push-fitted into an unfilled vessel (not shown).
Outlet end 116 of assembly 660 may be inserted, for example into: the inlet
end
414 of device 410 to form dispenser assembly 6S0 (Figure 8),
Outlet end 216 of assembly 650 may be inserted, for example, into one of the
following:
the inlet end 314 of device 310 to form dispenser assembly 690 (Figure 7);
the inlet end 514 of device 510 to form dispenser assembly 670 (Figure 9);
the inlet end 614 of device 610 to form dispenser assembly 700 (Figure 10).
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To commence flow of material, the outlet sealable connector part (130, etc) of
the
dispenser devices 110, 210 or dispenser assemblies (660, etc) is sealingly
connected to the
inlet of an unfilled vessel (not shown) by pushing into (eg Figs 1(c) - 1(f),
6(iv), 6(v) and
9) or by placing against (eg Figs 7, 8 and 10). If they are not ah~eady, the
apparatus and
vessels are arranged such that the filling vessel (not shown) is generally
vertically above
the device (10, 110 etc) and the unfilled vessel (not shown). The filling
vessel is inverted
in this position, so that gravity may assist the downward flow of the powder
through the
mouth of the filling vessel, which is below its base. No agitation of the
filling vessel is
required during filling of the unfilled vessel, however, some minor agitation
of the filling
vessel may be required before attachment to a dispenser device (10, 110). The
outwardly
tapered or parallel cross-section of the interior of the transport passage
(12, 112 etc) and
seals between vessels and dispenser device allow air exchange from the
unfilled vessel to
the filling vessel. Thus, displaced air from the unfilled vessel bubbles
through the powder
and transport passage and into the filler vessel, agitating the powder.
Blocking of the
transport passage (12, 112, etc) with lumps of powder is therefore minimised,
promoting
free flow of the powder.
Finally, various alterations, modifications andlor additions may be
incorporated
into the various constructions and aiTangements of parts without departing
from the spirit
or ambit of the invention.
