A dosing device is provided and comprises: a dosing chamber having an inlet through which product can enter from a container; an outlet into which product flows from the chamber and through which product flows out of the device; a siphon member located around the outlet; a vent opening in the chamber; a container-side vent which opens into the container, in which: the siphon member terminates at a level L1 with respect to the outlet; the outlet opens into the chamber at a level L2; such that in use product flows into the chamber through the inlet/s and fills the chamber until L2 is reached and then product is siphoned from the chamber into the outlet by the siphon member, the siphoning continuing until product in the chamber reaches L1, whereupon: air entering the vent opening interrupts the siphoning; and air vents into the container through the container-side vent such that thereafter recharging of the chamber repeats, in which a chicane is provided for preventing leakage of product through the vent opening.

Embodiments of the invention relate to dosing dispensers and in particular to dosing dispensers that may be operated using one hand by raising and filling a dosing chamber followed by lowering and dispersing a product from the dosing chamber and wherein the dose may be selected or adjusted and a user may visually confirm that the proper dose is being loaded and delivered by the dispenser.

Embodiments of the invention relate to dosing dispensers and in particular to dosing dispensers that may be operated using one hand by raising and filling a dosing chamber followed by lowering and dispersing a product from the dosing chamber and wherein the dose may be selected or adjusted and a user may visually confirm that the proper dose is being loaded and delivered by the dispenser.

In an embodiment the present invention provides a dispensing device for introducing a pourable detergent in metered amounts into a treatment chamber of a program-controlled cleaning appliance, in particular a dishwasher, the dispensing device including: a supply container for holding the detergent, the supply container having a reservoir chamber and a metering chamber terminating in a dispensing opening, the metering chamber being provided by a metering element that is movably disposed within the supply container and is movable from a non-metering position to a metering position; and a carrier unit which is rotatable by a motor and is configured to replaceably receive the supply container.

In an embodiment the present invention provides a dispensing device for introducing a pourable detergent in metered amounts into a treatment chamber of a program-controlled cleaning appliance, in particular a dishwasher, the dispensing device including: a supply container for holding the detergent, the supply container having a reservoir chamber and a metering chamber terminating in a dispensing opening, the metering chamber being provided by a metering element that is movably disposed within the supply container and is movable from a non-metering position to a metering position; and a carrier unit which is rotatable by a motor and is configured to replaceably receive the supply container.

A method dispenses and/or aspirates a predetermined volume of fluid from a chamber. The chamber includes a lower portion containing fluid and an upper portion containing gas. The method includes measuring an initial pressure in the upper portion and introducing or evacuating a known quantity of gas into or out of the upper portion. The volume of gas in the upper portion is determined based on the volume of gas introduced or evacuated from the upper portion and a measured change in pressure in the upper portion. An upper portion target pressure that will dispense or aspirate a predetermined volume of fluid is determined. A controllable valve is opened while the pressure in the upper portion of the chamber is monitored. Once the target pressure is reached, the predetermined volume of fluid has been dispensed or aspirated, and the controllable valve is then closed.

A metering device for metered dispensing of granular material from a hopper bottom storage bin. The device features a metering housing having a housing inlet for receiving said granular material from a hopper outlet of the storage bin, and a housing outlet from which the granular material is dispensable from the housing. A metering mechanism driven by an onboard motor is operable within the housing to dispense the granular material through the housing outlet in a metered fashion. A mounting arrangement is attachable to the storage bin in a position suspending the metering housing below the hopper outlet. The housing is movable into and out of a working position aligned under the hopper outlet, and can also be adjusted in tilt angle to achieve a properly leveled alignment in the working position.

A metering device for metered dispensing of granular material from a hopper bottom storage bin. The device features a metering housing having a housing inlet for receiving said granular material from a hopper outlet of the storage bin, and a housing outlet from which the granular material is dispensable from the housing. A metering mechanism driven by an onboard motor is operable within the housing to dispense the granular material through the housing outlet in a metered fashion. A mounting arrangement is attachable to the storage bin in a position suspending the metering housing below the hopper outlet. The housing is movable into and out of a working position aligned under the hopper outlet, and can also be adjusted in tilt angle to achieve a properly leveled alignment in the working position.

A minimal-amount powder metering device (1) for pharmaceutical or chemical applications, for metering powder volumes of less than 1 cm.sup.3, comprising a metering chamber (3) which is delimited by a surrounding wall (9) and which can be connected to a vacuum source (28) for suctioning powder in order to fill the metering chamber (3) with powder to be metered, filter means for retaining powder in the metering chamber (3) during a suctioning process being associated with the metering chamber (3), including the filter means are formed by the surrounding wall (9) and including at least one suction opening (12, 13) which serves to retain the powder in the metering chamber (3) and through which a vacuum can be applied to the metering chamber (3) is formed in the surrounding wall (9).

A minimal-amount powder metering device (1) for pharmaceutical or chemical applications, for metering powder volumes of less than 1 cm.sup.3, comprising a metering chamber (3) which is delimited by a surrounding wall (9) and which can be connected to a vacuum source (28) for suctioning powder in order to fill the metering chamber (3) with powder to be metered, filter means for retaining powder in the metering chamber (3) during a suctioning process being associated with the metering chamber (3), including the filter means are formed by the surrounding wall (9) and including at least one suction opening (12, 13) which serves to retain the powder in the metering chamber (3) and through which a vacuum can be applied to the metering chamber (3) is formed in the surrounding wall (9).