DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE METERED FILLING OF A CONTAINER WITH A FILLING MATERIAL

Abstract

A device for the metered filling of a container with a filling material includes a receiving unit for receiving a container and at least one material store as a storage container for the filling material. A defined quantity of the filling material is able to be removed from the at least one material store and transferred into the container by a filling unit. The filling unit includes at least one metering chamber which is displaceably mounted so that the metering chamber is present alternately in a first position and in a second position. In its first position the metering chamber is in contact with the material store so that filling material is able to be filled into the metering chamber from the material store. In its second position the metering chamber is arranged above the container so that the filling material located in the metering chamber is able to be emptied into the container. The container may, in particular, be a drinking straw.

Claims

1. A device (10, 12, 14) for the metered filling of a container (34) with a filling material (22, 72), the device comprising: a receiving unit (36) for receiving a container (34); at least one material store (20, 70) as a storage container for the filling material (22, 72); and a filling unit, a defined quantity of the filling material (22, 72) being able to be removed from the at least one material store (20,70) and transferred into the container (34) by means of said filling unit; wherein the filling unit comprises at least one metering chamber (26, 52, 54); the at least one metering chamber (26, 52, 54) is displaceably mounted so that the metering chamber (26, 52, 54) is present alternately in a first position (30, 58) and in a second position (32, 60); in the first position (30, 58) the metering chamber (26, 52, 54) is in contact with the material store (20, 70) so that filling material (22, 72) is able to be filled into the metering chamber (26, 52, 54) from the material store (20, 70); and in the second position (32, 60) the metering chamber (26, 52, 54) is arranged above the container (34) so that the filling material (22, 72) located in the metering chamber (26, 52, 54) is able to be emptied into the container (34).

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the metering chamber (26, 52, 54) is displaceable in the forward direction and in the opposing direction thereto.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the metering chamber (26, 52, 54) is mounted so as to be longitudinally displaceable.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein a first metering chamber (52) and a second metering chamber (54) are present; the two metering chambers (52, 54) are present alternately in a first position (58) and in a second position (60); and the two metering chambers (52, 54) are present in their second position (60) in an identical position above the container (34).

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the two metering chambers (52, 54) are displaceable in each case from their first position (58) into their second position (60) by a rotational movement (56).

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein a first material store (20) and a second material store (70) are present; the first metering chamber (52) is present in its first position (58) below the first material store (20) and in its second position (60) above the container (34); and the second metering chamber (54) is present in its first position (58) below the second material store (70) and in its second position (60) above the container (34).

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein a funnel element (44) is arranged between the at least one metering chamber (26, 52, 54) and the upper edge of the container (34).

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the container is configured as a drinking straw (34).

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein a weighing unit (46) is present.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein a counting unit (62) is present; and the counting unit (62) displays the number of changes in position of the at least one metering chamber (26, 52, 54).

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein a printer unit (48, 64) is present.

12. A method for the metered filling of a container (34) with a filling material (22, 72), comprising the following method steps: a metering chamber (26,52, 54) is positioned in its first position (30, 58) below a material store (20, 70); the filling material (22, 72) is transferred from the material store (20, 70) into the metering chamber (26, 52, 54); the metering chamber (26, 52, 54) is displaced slightly out of its first position (30, 58) so that the metering chamber (26, 52, 54) is positioned in a second position (32, 60) above the container (34); the filling material (22, 72) falls out of the metering chamber (26, 52, 54) into the container (34); and the metering chamber (26, 52, 54) is displaced again from the second position (32, 60) into the first position (30, 58) so that the metering chamber (26, 52, 54) may be refilled with filling material (22, 72).

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of portions of filling material (22, 72) are filled into the container (34).

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein for filling a container (34) the metering chamber (26, 52, 54) is repeatedly transferred from the first position (30, 58) into the second position (32, 60) and back again into the first position (30, 58).

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein a first metering chamber (52) and a second metering chamber (54) are present; and in each case the two metering chamber (52, 54) are present alternately in their first position (58) and in their second position (60).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

[0027] In the drawings,

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a first embodiment of the device according to the invention, in which the individual metering chambers are in their first position below the material store;

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a schematic longitudinal section through the device according to FIG. 1, in which the individual metering chamber is located in its second position above the container;

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, in which the first metering chamber is located in its first position below the material store and the second metering chamber is located in its second position above the container;

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the device according to FIG. 3 without the material store; and

[0032] FIG. 5 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a third embodiment of the device according to the invention, in which the first metering chamber is located in its first position below a first material store and the second metering chamber is located in its second position above the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] A first embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention is shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2. The device 10 has a material store 20 in which a filling material 22 is held in storage. The filling material 22 in the present exemplary embodiment is in the form of pellets which in each case contain a defined quantity of an active substance. Thus a uniform distribution may be achieved of the concentration of the active substance in the filling material 22. A metering disc 24 is located below the material store 20. In the present exemplary embodiment, an individual metering chamber 26 is formed in the metering disc 24. The metering chamber 26 is able to receive a specific quantity of filling material 22. The metering disc 24 in the present exemplary embodiment may be displaced to and fro in the longitudinal direction 28. As a result, the metering chamber 26 may be transferred from its first position 30 shown in FIG. 1 below the material store 20 into a second position 32 shown in FIG. 2. From this second position 32, the metering chamber 26 may be displaced back again into its first position 30.

[0034] In its second position 32 the metering chamber 26 is located above the opening of a container 34. The container 34 in the present exemplary embodiment is configured as a drinking straw. The drinking straw 34 is mounted upright in a receiving unit 36, so that the opening of the drinking straw 34 faces upwardly. In order to remove the drinking straw 34 after filling and to be able to replace it for a new empty drinking straw, the receiving unit 36 may be removed from the device 10. After removing the receiving unit 36, the drinking straw 34 may be removed. Subsequently, the receiving unit 36 may be positioned again in the device 10 with a new drinking straw 34. In order ensure that the receiving unit 36 and thus also the drinking straw 34 to be filled are in the correct position, the device 10 in the present exemplary embodiment has a latching element 38. The latching element 38 in the correct position of the receiving unit 36 extends into a recess 40 of the receiving unit 36 and may be latched there by suitable counter-means. Only when this contact is made is the metering disc 24 able to move. As a result, incorrect filling may be prevented. At the same time, with an inadvertent actuation of the metering disc 24 without the receiving unit 36 being inserted (for example when transporting the device 10) it is impossible that valuable filling material 22 is able to be removed from the material store 20.

[0035] In order to facilitate the filling of the filling material 22, a stationary plate 42 is present below the metering disc 24. A funnel element in the form of a funnel-shaped opening 44 is formed in this plate 42. This funnel-shaped opening 44 is positioned directly above the edge region of the drinking straw 34.

[0036] In the present example, the removal of the filling material 22 from the material store 20 is monitored by means of a weighing unit 46. In the present example, the weighing unit 46 determines the weight of the filling material 22 present in the material store 20. Alternatively or additionally, the weight of the filling material already present in the container 34 could also be determined by means of a weighing unit. The weighing unit 46 is connected to a printer unit 48 corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 2. As a result, the measurement result may be emitted via the printer unit 48 and thus recorded. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment shown here, the weighing unit 46 and/or the printer unit 48 could also be dispensed with.

[0037] A second embodiment of the device 12 according to the invention is shown schematically in FIGS. 3 and 4. The device 12 has a material store 20 in which a filling material 22 is held in storage. A metering disc 50 is located below the material store 20. In the present exemplary embodiment, two metering chambers 52, 54 are formed in the metering disc 50. The two metering chambers 52, 54 in each case may receive a specific quantity of filling material 22, wherein both metering chambers 52, 54 in each case may receive exactly the same quantity of filling material 22. The metering disc 50 in the present example may be rotated to and fro in the direction of the arrow 56. Whilst in FIGS. 3 and 4 the first metering chamber 52 is in its first position 58 below the material store 20, the second metering chamber 54 in FIGS. 3 and 4 is in its second position 60 above the container 34. After rotating the metering disc 50, the first metering chamber 52 would be located in its second position above the drinking straw 34 and the second metering chamber 54 in its first position below the material store 20. As in the case of the device 10 according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the device 12 according to FIGS. 3 and 4 also has a stationary plate 42 with a funnel-shaped opening 44 below the metering disc 50.

[0038] In the present example, the removal of the filling material 22 from the material store 20 is monitored by means of a counting unit 62 (see FIG. 3). In the present example, the counting unit 62 determines the number of changes in position of the two metering chambers 52, 54. The counting unit 62 is connected to a printer unit 64 corresponding to FIG. 3. The result may be output, therefore, via the printer unit 64 and thus recorded. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment shown here, the counter unit 62, 46 and/or the printer unit 64 could also be dispensed with.

[0039] Alternatively or additionally, according to FIGS. 3 and 4 the device 12 could also be provided with a weighing unit 46 comparable with FIGS. 1 and 2. The device 10 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 could also be provided with a counting unit 62 comparable with FIG. 3.

[0040] A third embodiment of the device according to the invention 14 is shown schematically in FIG. 5. The device 14 has a first material store 20 in which a first filling material 22 is held in storage. Moreover, the device 14 has a second material store 70 in which a second filling material 72 is held in storage. A metering disc 50 with two metering chambers 52, 54 is located below the two material stores 20, 70. In the present example, the metering disc 50 may be displaced to and fro in the longitudinal direction 74. Whilst the first metering chamber 52 in FIG. 5 in its first position 58 is below the first material store 20, the second metering chamber 54 in FIG. 5 in its second position 60 is above the container 34. After displacing the metering disc 50, the first metering chamber 52 would be located in its second position above the drinking straw 34 and the second metering chamber 54 in its first position below the second material store 70. By means of the first metering chamber 52, therefore, a first filling material 22 may be filled into the container 34. However, the second metering chamber 54 may fill the container 34 with a second filling material 72.

[0041] Comparable with the devices 10 and/or 12 the device 14 could also be provided with a weighing unit 46 and/or a counting unit 62, in each case with or without a printer unit 48, 64.

[0042] Generally, more than one filling of the metering chamber 26, 52, 54 is required in order to fill the desired quantity of filling material 22, 72 and thus also the desired dose of active substance into the drinking straw 34. The metering disc 24, 50 is, therefore, generally repeatedly moved to and fro before the drinking straw 34 is removed. If the concentration of active substance in the filling material 22, 72 is known, in this manner different quantities of active substance may be filled accurately.

[0043] If other quantities of filling material are to be filled, a replacement of the metering disc 24, 50 and thus an adaptation of the size of the metering chambers 26, 52, 54 may also be possible. Optionally, the adaptation of the size of the metering chambers 26, 52, 54 could also be implemented by different inserts in the metering disc 24, 50.

[0044] Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.