Device for dosing creams

Abstract

A device for dosing from a tube (2) for creams or gel-like products, wherein a dosing wheel (1) is provided.

Claims

1. A dosing unit for dosing a desired dosing amount of product from a tube, comprising: a tube containing a product to be dosed, the tube having an outlet; and a dosing unit attached to the tube at the tube outlet, the dosing unit comprising a rotatable body having a dosing chamber sized to the desired dosing amount, the dosing chamber communicates with the tube outlet for moving product from the tube when the tube is manipulated, a movable ball piston in the dosing chamber which is movable between a first end of the dosing chamber and a second end of the dosing chamber, wherein the rotatable body is adapted to selectively rotate to alternately bring the first and second ends into communication with the tube outlet, wherein the rotatable body comprises two half-shells, and further comprising a non-return valve for closing the outlet of the tube, a sealing collar for sealing against the two half-shells, a spring element biasing the non-return valve relative to the sealing collar toward the outlet of the tube, and a compression spring element which biases the sealing collar toward the two half-shells for contact and tight operation between the sealing collar and the two half-shells.

2. A dosing unit for dosing a desired dosing amount of product from a tube, comprising: a tube containing a product to be dosed, the tube having an outlet; and a dosing unit attached to the tube at the tube outlet, the dosing unit comprising a rotatable body having a dosing chamber sized to the desired dosing amount, the dosing chamber communicates with the tube outlet for moving product from the tube when the tube is manipulated, a movable ball piston in the dosing chamber which is movable between a first end of the dosing chamber and a second end of the dosing chamber, wherein the rotatable body is adapted to selectively rotate to alternately bring the first and second ends into communication with the tube outlet, wherein the rotatable body comprises two half-shells, and wherein the half-shells together define a split axle which is received in a threaded housing of the dosing unit to rotatably hold the half-shells relative to the threaded housing, and wherein the threaded housing attaches to the tube to hold the dosing unit to the tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages, features, and detail are derived from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the dosing unit attached to a tube.

(3) FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the dosing unit and tube of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is an exploded partial view showing the sealing seat formed by the dosing chamber for the ball piston.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates the details of the dosing wheel having the dosing chamber.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment which includes a check valve.

(7) FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the check valve of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) The tube 2 is opened by turning the dosing wheel 1 by 180, and the tube content 3 may by the known squeezing handling of the tube 2, that is to say by compressing and squeezing the tube wall 4, on account of which the tube content 3 can be removed by way of the exit opening 5.

(9) In FIG. 1 the strand dosing unit 6 is screwed onto the tube 2 and protected against contamination and uncontrolled activation by a protective cap 7.

(10) Two half-shells 9 and 10 are anchored in a threaded housing 8 by way of the split axle receptacle 11. The two half-shells 9 and 10 substantially form the dosing wheel 8.

(11) The strand dosing unit 6 is opened by rotating the dosing wheel 1, such that by squeezing the tube 2 the product to be deployed can be removed from the deployment opening 5 and can simultaneously again flow from the tube 2 into the dosing space 12.

(12) FIG. 2 shows a section through the strand dosing unit 6, having the dosing wheel 1 which is composed of two half-shells 10 and 9. Product dosing is performed by way of the centric dosing chamber 12 having the ball piston 13.

(13) FIGS. 2 and 3 shows the system in the closed position, with the ball piston 13 lying in the sealing seat 14, and the filled dosing chamber 12.

(14) By way of rotation of the dosing wheel 1 by 180 the ball piston 13 by way of the sealing collar 15 is brought to latch, such that on account of squeezing the tube 2, the tube content 3, together with the ball piston 13, covers the defined path in the dosing space 12 and, on account thereof, by way of the filled dosing space 12 the medium flows as a strand of cream through the deployment opening and may be removed.

(15) In the closed position (see FIG. 2) the ball piston 13, lying in the sealing seat 14, closes off the system.

(16) By rotating the dosing wheel 1 the ball piston 13 is always alternatingly moved through the product which is squeezed out of the tube 2 and via the fixed dosing path and the desired strand length to the deployment opening.

(17) The sealing collar 15 sits in the housing 8 and between the tube 2 and the dosing wheel 1 seals the medium which is squeezed out of the tube 2 in relation to the transition into the dosing space 12.

(18) The anchoring of the dosing wheel 1, which is composed of two half shells 10 and 9 in the housing 8 by way of the split axle receptacle 11, is illustrated in FIG. 4.

(19) The sealing collar 15 bears on the planar face of the tube thread 16.

(20) FIG. 5 shows a variant having a check valve 17 toward the tube 2, wherein a soft seal 18 as a bearing for the check valve 17, which is configured as a plate valve, is integrated directly on the planar face of the thread.

(21) The sealing collar 15 is integrated above the check valve 17 toward the dosing wheel 1.

(22) The check valve 17 is to be employed for plastic tubes in order to stop the reverse suction force which is triggered by the plastic tube walls.

(23) There is no reverse suction force in the case of sheet-metal tubes, since the sheet-metal tube wall remains in the deformed state and does not try to revert to its initial position on account of the inherent material tension, as is the case with a plastic tube.

(24) By way of this idea a safe dosing possibility and dosing aid for tubes is being offered to the pharmaceutical and cosmetics market.

(25) This novel system may also be deployed in all industries, such as, for example, adhesives, silicones, greases, etc.

(26) By way of the employment of various dosing wheel diameters or dosing space sizes, respectively, all dosing volumes are covered by the variants of the system. Furthermore, on account of the variably sized dosing spaces and of different materials in the dosing region, all creams and gel-type products can be catered for.

(27) FIG. 6 shows a variant of the sealing collar 15 having a spring-loaded check valve 17. The check valve 17 is configured such that it includes a spring element 19 for closing the spring collar 15, and a compression-spring element 20 in order to control the contact pressure on the half shells 9 and 10 for tight functioning.

(28) The strand dosing unit 6 has a concave finger receptacle for activating the dosing wheel 1.