Dispensing System

Abstract

A dispensing system with a dispense head and at least one container. The dispense head is connectable to a container opening of the container by means of a screw connection, so that stored material is dispensable from or suppliable to the container by means of the dispense head. There is an actuating ring on the dispense head, wherein the screw connection is established by rotating the actuating ring in a closure direction. The screw connection is released by rotating the actuating ring in a release direction. The actuating ring has an overload protection by means of which an effective closure torque is limited to a limit closure torque when the screw connection is established.

Claims

1. A dispensing system (1) with a dispense head (4) and at least one container (2), wherein the dispense head (4) is connectable to a container opening (6) of the container (2) by means of a screw connection, so that stored material is dispensable from or suppliable to the container (2) by means of the dispense head (4), characterized in that there is an actuating ring (15) on the dispense head (4), wherein the screw connection is established by rotating the actuating ring (15) in a closure direction, and wherein the screw connection is released by rotating the actuating ring (15) in a release direction, and wherein the actuating ring (15) has an overload protection by means of which an effective closure torque is limited to a limit closure torque when the screw connection is established.

2. The dispensing system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating ring (15) is connected to a thread, and in that by rotating the actuating ring (15) the thread is screwable onto or unscrewable from a mating thread in the area of the container opening (6).

3. The dispensing system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the mating thread is located in the container opening (6) or in a dip tube (5) mounted in the container opening (6).

4. The dispensing system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the thread is an external thread (14) and the mating thread is an internal thread (11).

5. The dispensing system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the actuating ring (15) has an outer ring (16) and an inner ring (17) firmly connected to the thread, wherein there are overload elements forming the overload protection, by means of which a detachable coupling of the outer ring (16) and the inner ring (17) is effected.

6. The dispensing system (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the outer jacket surface of the inner ring (17) closely rests against the inner jacket surface, wherein the outer ring (16) and the inner ring (17) are rotatable around a common axis of rotation.

7. The dispensing system (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the overload elements in a locking position cause a coupling of the outer ring (16) and the inner ring (17), so that the inner ring (17) is corotated when the outer ring (16) is rotated, and that when a limit closure torque is reached when the screw connection is established, the overload elements are automatically transferred to a release position, so that the inner ring (17) is not corotated when the outer ring (16) is rotated in the closure direction.

8. The dispensing system (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the overload elements are automatically transferred from the release position to the locking position when the actuating ring (15) is rotated in the release direction.

9. The dispensing system (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that each overload element has a locking segment (21) spring-mounted in a cavity (19) running in the radial direction and opening out on the inner jacket surface of the outer ring (16).

10. The dispensing system (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the inner ring (17) has a plurality of recesses (22) arranged at a distance from one another in the circumferential direction and opening out on its outer jacket surface, wherein in the locking position of an overload element its locking segment (21) projects into one of the recesses (22).

11. The dispensing system (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that, in the release position of an overload element, its locking segment (21) rests against the outer jacket surface of the inner ring (17), as a result of which the locking segment (21) is fully retracted into the cavity (19).

12. The dispensing system (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the recesses (22) are identical and arranged equidistantly in the circumferential direction of the inner ring (17).

13. The dispensing system (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the number of recesses (22) is greater than the number of overload elements, wherein the arrangement of the overload elements on the outer ring (16) is adapted to the arrangement of the recesses (22) on the inner ring (17) in such a way that when the outer ring (16) and the inner ring (17) are coupled, the locking segments (21) of all overload elements respectively engage in one of the recesses (22).

14. The dispensing system (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that each recess (22) is bounded by a wall, wherein a segment (23a) of the wall lying in the closure direction has a flatter gradient than the segment (23b) of the wall lying in the release direction.

15. The dispensing system (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the gradient of the segment (23a) of the wall lying in the closure direction is dimensioned in such a way that the locking segment (21) is guided out of the recess (22) via this segment (23a) of the wall when the limit closure torque is reached, and in that the gradient of the segment (23b) of the recess (22) lying in the release direction is dimensioned in such a way that the locking segment (21) is held in the recess (22) when the actuating ring (15) is rotated in the release direction.

16. The dispensing system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a clicking sound is generated when the overload protection engages.

17. The dispensing system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the actuating ring (15), the thread and the mating thread are made of plastic.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The invention is explained below on the basis of the drawings. The drawings show:

[0046] FIG. 1: Schematic depiction of the dispensing system according to the invention.

[0047] FIG. 2: Partial depiction of the dispensing system according to FIG. 1 with a container having a dip tube and a dispense head.

[0048] FIG. 3: Enlarged partial depiction of the arrangement according to FIG. 2.

[0049] FIG. 4: Individual depiction of a section of the dispense head of the dispensing system according to FIG. 1.

[0050] FIG. 5: Perspective depiction of the actuating ring of the dispense head.

[0051] FIG. 6: Sectional depiction of the dispense head.

[0052] FIG. 7A: Enlarged partial depiction of the arrangement according to FIG. 6 with an overload element in a locking position, and

[0053] FIG. 7B: Enlarged partial depiction of the arrangement according to FIG. 6 with an overload element in a release position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0054] FIG. 1 shows schematically an exemplary embodiment of the dispensing system 1 according to the invention for transportable containers 2, which in particular can be barrels, bottles or similar. A liquid 3 is stored as stored goods in the respective container 2. Liquids 3 stored in such containers 2 are in particular liquid specialty chemicals.

[0055] The dispensing system 1 comprises a dispense head 4, which can be fastened to a dip tube 5. The dip tube 5 is supported in a container opening 6 of the container 2, and is thus firmly connected to the container 2. The longitudinal axis of the dip tube 5 projecting into the interior of the container 2 runs in a vertical direction.

[0056] The dispense head 4 is used for dispensing liquids 3 from the container 2. Likewise, this can be used for filling containers 2. For this purpose, the dispense head 4 has a liquid connection 4a at its upper end. A line 7 that leads to a pump 8 is connected to this liquid connection 4a. The line 7 can be formed as a hose. The pump 8 is controlled by a control unit (not shown).

[0057] FIGS. 2 and 3 show the dispense head 4 with the associated container 2. FIG. 4 shows an individual depiction of a section of the dispense head 4.

[0058] The dip tube 5 has a hollow cylindrical tube body 9 and a head part 10 at the upper side of the tube body 9 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The head part 10 is supported at the container opening 6 at the upper side of the container 2 in such a way that the tube body 9 projects into the container 2. The dip tube 5 consists of plastic.

[0059] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the head part 10 has an opening with a circular cross section, which opening opens out at the upper side of the head part 10.

[0060] An internal thread 11 is provided as connection means at the inner wall delimiting the opening. Like the rest of the dip tube 5, the connection means with the internal thread 11 consists of plastic.

[0061] As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 2 and 4, the dispense head 4 has a base body 4b, at the upper end of which the liquid connection 4a is provided. A liquid channel not shown runs inside the base body 4b from the liquid connection 4a, to which liquid channel a tubular lug 12 is connected which opens out at the lower end of the base body 4b. A ventilation port 13 opens out laterally on the base body 4b. The dispense head 4 consists of plastic.

[0062] Above the tubular lug 12, at the lower edge of the base body 4b, a connection means is designed in the form of an external thread 14. The external thread 14 is designed complementary to the internal thread 11 of the dip tube 5. These connection means with the external thread 14 also consist of plastic.

[0063] To establish and release a screw connection, the external thread 14 of the dispense head 4 is screwed into the internal thread 11 of the dip tube 5.

[0064] The external thread 14 is screwed into and unscrewed from the internal thread 11 by means of an actuating ring 15 on the dispensing head 4, wherein the actuating ring 15 is coupled to the external thread 14.

[0065] To establish the screw connection, the actuating ring 15 is rotated in a closure direction. To release the screw connection, the actuating ring 15 is rotated in the opposite direction in a release direction.

[0066] According to the invention, the actuating ring 15 has an overload protection which, when the actuating ring 15 and thus the external thread 14 is rotated in the closure direction to establish the screw connection, limits the closure torque to a limit closure torque, thereby preventing impairment of or damage to the components of the screw connection, in particular the external thread 14 and internal thread 11.

[0067] In addition, when the limit closure torque is reached, the components of the actuating ring 15 forming the overload protection cause a clearly audible clicking sound, through which a user who manually actuates the actuating ring 15 receives an audible warning or general information that the limit closure torque has been reached.

[0068] Alternatively, the actuating ring 15 can also be actuated by means of a robot.

[0069] FIGS. 5 and 6 show the actuating ring 15 in a single depiction. The actuating ring 15 consists of an outer ring 16 and an inner ring 17.

[0070] The outer ring 16 and inner ring 17 are arranged concentrically to a center axis A of the actuating ring 15 and can be rotated about this axis of rotation. The center axis A runs perpendicular to the drawing plane of FIG. 6.

[0071] The outer contour of the inner ring 17, in particular its outer jacket surface, is adapted to the inner contour, in particular the inner jacket surface of the outer ring 16, in such a way that the outer jacket surface of the inner ring 17 rests against the inner jacket surface of the outer ring 16 with little play, so that the inner ring 17 is rotatable relative to the outer ring 16.

[0072] The inner ring 17 is firmly connected to the outer ring 16, wherein the inner ring 17 and the outer ring 16 advantageously consist of a plastic injection-molded part. In this way, a rotary movement of the inner ring 17 is directly transferred to the external thread 14.

[0073] The outer ring 16 has six grip segments 18 arranged equidistantly in the circumferential direction, which project outwards in the radial direction beyond the outer jacket surface of the ring-shaped base body 4b. The grip segments 18 each have identical outer contours. A user can simply grip the grip segments 18 and thus rotate the actuating ring 15.

[0074] In each of two opposite grip segments 18 there is a cavity 19 running in a radial direction and opening out at the inner jacket surface of the outer ring 16.

[0075] A locking segment 21 is spring-mounted in this cavity by means of a spring element 20. The spring element 20 and the locking segment 21 form an overload element with which the overload protection is formed.

[0076] Corresponding to this, the inner ring 17 has recesses 22 which open out on the outer jacket surface of the inner ring 17. The recesses 22 are identical and adapted to the shape of the locking segments 21 of the overload elements.

[0077] In the present case, six recesses 22 are provided, which are arranged equidistantly, i.e. are respectively arranged offset from each other by 60.

[0078] The recesses 22 are asymmetrical, as shown in FIG. 6 and the enlarged partial views of FIGS. 7a and 7b.

[0079] Each recess 22 is bounded by a wall formed by the ring body of the inner ring 17. The segment 23a of the wall lying in the closure direction has a flatter gradient than the segment 23b of the wall lying in the release direction.

[0080] The gradient of the segment 23a of the wall lying in the closure direction is dimensioned in such a way that the locking segment 21 is guided out of the recess 22 via this segment 23a of the wall when the limit closure torque is reached.

[0081] Furthermore, the gradient of the segment 23b of the recess 22 lying in the release direction is dimensioned in such a way that the locking segment 21 is held in the recess 22 when the actuating ring 15 is rotated in the release direction.

[0082] The function of the overload protection is explained below with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 7a and 7b.

[0083] In an initial position, the outer ring 16 and the inner ring 17 are coupled by the overload elements, by, as shown in FIG. 6, the locking segments 21 of the two overload elements respectively engaging in a recess 22 of the inner ring 17. The spring forces of the respective spring element 20 ensure that the locking segment 21 is extended over the edge of the cavity and projects into the respective recess 22.

[0084] If the actuating ring 15 is then rotated in the closure direction by a user or a robot gripping the outer ring 16 at the grip segments 18, the inner ring 17 is rotated with the outer ring 16 so that the screw connection is formed.

[0085] As soon as a limit closure torque is reached when the screw connection is formed, the external thread 14 screwed to the internal thread 11 exerts a counterforce against further tightening of the actuating ring 15, which counterforce results in the locking segments 21 being guided out of the respective recess 22. This is illustrated in FIG. 7a with arrow I.

[0086] The gradient of the segment 23a of the wall bounding the recess 22 is adapted accordingly.

[0087] When the locking segment 21 is disengaged from the recess 22, an audible clicking sound is heard, which indicates that the limit closure torque has been reached.

[0088] After each locking segment 21 has been disengaged from the respective recess 22, it rests against the outer jacket surface of the inner ring 17, as shown in FIG. 7b. As a result, each locking segment 21 is pushed completely into the respective cavity 19. As a result, the outer ring 16 is decoupled from the inner ring 17, thus providing overload protection. Further rotating of the outer ring 16 is not transferred to the inner ring 17, which prevents the screw connection from being subjected to a closure torque greater than the limit closure torque.

[0089] If the screw connection is then released again, the actuating ring 15 is rotated in the opposite direction. First, the locking segments 21 are again guided into the recesses 22. When the actuating ring 15 is rotated further, the rotary movement of the outer ring 16 is transferred to the inner ring 17, since the locking segments 21 are then held securely in the recesses 22 due to the steeper gradients of the segments 23 of the walls.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0090] (1) Dispensing system [0091] (2) Container [0092] (3) Liquid [0093] (4) Dispense head [0094] (4a) Liquid connection [0095] (4b) Base body [0096] (5) Dip tube [0097] (6) Container opening [0098] (7) Line [0099] (8) Pump [0100] (9) Tube body [0101] (10) Head part [0102] (11) Internal thread [0103] (12) Lug [0104] (13) Ventilation port [0105] (14) External thread [0106] (15) Actuating ring [0107] (16) Outer ring [0108] (17) Inner ring [0109] (18) Grip segment [0110] (19) Cavity [0111] (20) Spring element [0112] (21) Locking segment [0113] (22) Recess [0114] (23) Segment [0115] (23a) Segment (in closure direction) [0116] (23b) Segment (in release direction) [0117] (A) Center axis