A METHOD FOR THE DOSING OF A COLOUR PASTE

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for dosing a colour paste, comprising the step of removing from a stock package and entering in to a container a predetermined amount of colour paste, said stock package comprising an output for the dosing of said colour paste. The method is characterized in that it comprises the step of using a stock package with: a first pressure chamber at a first pressure; a second pressure chamber at a second pressure which is lower than the first pressure, which chambers are in contact with each other by means of a shut-off valve in order to keep a mutual pressure difference substantially constant; and a storage chamber which comprises the colour paste, said storage chamber being in pressure contact with the second pressure chamber and being in sealable connection with the output by means of a dosing valve for dosing the colour paste when opening the dosing valve, with the provision that the pressure in the storage chamber is higher than the pressure outside the stock package.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A method for dosing a color paste, comprising the step of removing from a stock package and entering into a container a pre-determined amount of color paste, said stock package comprising an output for the dosing of said color paste, wherein the method further comprises the step of using a stock package with: a first pressure chamber at a first pressure; a second pressure chamber at a second pressure which is lower than the first pressure, which chambers are in contact with each other by means of a shut-off valve in order to keep a mutual pressure difference substantially constant; and a storage chamber which comprises the color paste, said storage chamber being in pressure contact with the second pressure chamber and being in sealable connection with the output by means of a dosing valve for dosing the color paste when opening the dosing valve, with the proviso that the pressure in the storage chamber is higher than the pressure outside the stock package.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the second pressure chamber is separated from the storage chamber by means of movable wall in the stock package.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises the step of operating the dosing valve by means of an electromagnetic valve or a servo-circuit.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the operation of the dosing valve has a minimum response time of less than 0.4 sec.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the operation of the dosing valve has a minimum response time of less than 0.3 sec.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the dosing valve is adapted for operating with a minimum response time of less than 0.2 sec.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the dosing valve is adapted for operating with a minimum response time of less than 0.1 sec.

22. The method according to claim 15, wherein the dosing valve comprises a needle valve.

23. The method according to claim 15, wherein in a first step a first material is dosed into a container and in a second step the color paste is dosed into the container.

24. A device for applying the method according to claim 15, comprising at least one stock package with a color paste, said stock package comprising an output for dosing there through the color paste, characterized in that the stock package comprises: a first pressure chamber at a first pressure; a second pressure chamber at a second pressure which is lower than said first pressure, which chambers are in contact with each other by means of a shut-off valve in order to keep a mutual pressure difference substantially constant; and a storage chamber which comprises the color paste, said storage chamber being in pressure contact with the second pressure chamber and being in sealable connection with the output by means of a dosing valve for dosing the color paste when opening the dosing valve, with the proviso that the pressure in the storage chamber is higher than the pressure outside the stock package.

25. The device according to claim 24, wherein the device comprises at least two stock packages, wherein a first stock package comprises a color paste and a second stock package comprises a base for the production of a cosmetic product, in particular a lip gloss or a nail polish.

26. The device according to claim 24, wherein the device comprises at least two stock packages, wherein a first stock package comprises a color paste and a second stock package comprises a base for the production of a paint, coating or lacquer.

27. The device according to claim 24, wherein each stock package comprises its own dosing valve.

28. The device according to claim 24, wherein the device further comprises a control device for controlling the dosing valve.

29. The device according to claim 24, wherein the device comprises a displacement device for a container into which the color paste has been dosed, said displacement device being adapted for displacing the container from the output of the stock package towards a treatment station.

30. The device according to claim 29, wherein the treatment station is comprised of: an output of a different stock package for dosing a different material into the container; and a mixing station for mixing of materials that have been dosed into the container.

Description

[0027] Hereinafter, the invention will be explained with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows in:

[0028] FIG. 1 a schematic flow diagram of a production line for the production of cosmetic products in a container.

[0029] In the figures analogous parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. However, for sake of simplicity of the presentation, not all parts that are necessary for a practical embodiment of the invention have been shown.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic flow diagram of a production line 1 for producing cosmetic products in a container 2. In the embodiment shown, the production line 1 comprises three stock packages 3, 4, 5 which each may contain a different kind of material. In the embodiment shown, it is assumed that the first stock package 3 comprises a base material for manufacturing a lip gloss, for example a petroleum jelly-like material. The second stock package 4 comprises a colour paste, whereas the last stock package 5 comprises a glitter material. The colour paste and the glitter have a high solids loading, and as a consequence the material has a high viscosity. The petroleum jelly also has a high viscosity.

[0031] Each stock package 3, 4, 5 comprises a first pressure chamber 6, in which gas may be contained at high pressure. For example, air may be used for this purpose, or an inert gas. The gas should be substantially inert with respect to the stock package's material. When the stock package's material is not reactive with respect to any gas, any gas may be contained in the first pressure chamber 6.

[0032] The first pressure chamber 6 is in communication with a second pressure chamber 8 by means of a shut-off valve 7. The shut-off valve 7 provides for maintenance of a substantially continuous pressure difference between the first pressure chamber 6 and second pressure chamber 8. The second pressure chamber 8 is in communication with a storage chamber 10 by means of a moveable wall 9, said storage chamber 10 comprising the material that should be dosed through an output 11 from the stock package 3, 4, 5 into the container 2. The storage chamber 10 is closed off by means of a controllable dosing valve 12 which prevents that the material can freely be removed from the stock package.

[0033] The dosing valve 12 is controlled by a control device or a control computer 13. This can perform a sequence of schemes, with the result that in a first step a predetermined amount of the material is dispensed from stock package 3, after which a predetermined amount of material is dispensed from stock package 4 and finally a predetermined amount of material is dispensed from stock package 5. A transport device 14 has been provided as well which transports the container 2 from one to the other stock package 3; 4; 5. The transport device 14 is preferably also controlled by control device 13.

[0034] Finally, a mixing device 15 has been provided which provides for a mixing of the different materials from the stock packages 3; 4; 5 into the container 2.

[0035] The invention is not limited to the embodiments as described above and as shown in the drawing. The invention is limited only by the appending claims.

[0036] The invention furthermore relates to every combination of features that have been described above independently from each other.