LIQUID DOSING AND DISPENSING SYSTEM

Abstract: The invention pertains to a combination of a container (3) for liquid and a device (1) for dispensing metered quantities of liquid therefrom, the container being movable from a storage position to a dispensing position at which liquid is deliverable from the container by gravity flow, characterized in that the dispensing device comprises a valve (4) engaged in the delivery opening (2) of the container and capable of controlling the flow of liquid therefrom, and a metering bottle (6) engageable in the delivery opening and movable from a first position at which the bottle is capable of receiving liquid from the container, to a second position at which the bottle is disengageable from the delivery opening, the bottle having a shape such that in the first position an air pocket is retained inside it, which is displaced by liquid and transferred to a position adjacent to the valve by movement of the bottle to the second position. The container/dispenser combination allows dosing of metered quantities of liquid without any risk of dripping or leaking.

Description: The present invention relates to a device for dispensing liquids and in particular it relates to a combination of a container and a device for dispensing metered quantities of liquid from the container. In those applications where liquid products are delivered in relatively large supply containers and infrequent dosing of accurate quantities of liquid product is necessary, a dispensing and dosing device is desirable which is cheap, easy to operate and which requires a minimum of maintenance. In particular, in applications with chemicals which are hazardous to health or corrosive, it is necessary that such dispensing and dosing devices are non-dripping during filling the device with liquid product from the container or during detaching it from the container for discharge of the metered quantity at the actual site of use. It has been found that the devices currently known have a number of shortcomings which it is the object of the present invention to overcome. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing and dosing device which is simple in construction and economical to produce. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a device which is safe in use in that it can be easily connected to the supply container, filled with a metered quantity of liquid and detached from the supply container without any risk of dripping or leaking. It is still a further object to provide such a device which is easy to operate and allows accurate dosing of metered quantities of liquid. Accordingly, the present invention provides a combination of a container for liquid and a device for dispensing metered quantities of liquid therefrom, the container being movable from a storage position to a dispensing position at which liquid is deliverable from the container by gravity flow, the dispensing device comprising a valve engaged in the delivery opening of the container and capable of controlling the flow of liquid therefrom, and a metering bottle engageable in the delivery opening and movable from a first position at which the bottle is capable of receiving liquid from the container, to a second position at which the bottle is disengageable from the delivery opening, the bottle having a shape such that in the first position an air pocket is retained inside it, which is displaced by liquid and transferred to a position adjacent to the valve by movement of the bottle to the second position. The dispensing device in accordance with the present invention comprises a valve which is engaged in the delivery opening of the container and capable of controlling the flow of liquid from the container when in its dispensing position. Preferably, the bottle and the valve are co-operable by movement of the metering bottle between its first and second position. In the first position of the bottle, the valve is open and liquid can flow from the container into the metering bottle, whereas in the second position, the valve is closed, blocking the flow of liquid into the bottle. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a valve and bottle combination is used wherein the valve is operable by rotary movement of the bottle over a suitable angle, e.g. a rotary movement over 180°. A preferred type of valve then is a flat rotary disk valve, i.e. a valve which comprises two concentric parallel plates having throughlet openings in juxtaposition when the valve is open. It is often desirable and preferred to design the device such that the bottle can be attached to and detached from the delivery opening of the container only in the second position, i.e. the position which corresponds to the arrangement in which the valve is closed. The shape of the bottle is such that when it is in the first position and the bottle is filled by gravity flow with liquid from the container, an air pocket is retained which remains free from liquid. By movement of the bottle to the second position, the retained air is displaced by liquid and transferred to a position adjacent to the valve due to gravity flow of liquid inside the bottle. Preferably the bottle is engageable in or to the delivery opening of the container by a bayonet fixing. Suitable adaptor parts may be provided to ensure leak-free engagement of the bottle and valve to the delivery opening. Suitably the valve and the optional adaptor parts are such that they can be mounted in the delivery opening of said container instead of the normal closure cap. Preferably means are provided whereby the container is held in its dispensing position. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the dispensing and dosing device according to the present invention as mounted in the delivery opening of a container drawn in cut-off fashion, the valve being open; Figure 2 is a similar view, the valve being closed; and Figure 3 is a side view of a container and dispenser combination. Referring now to the drawings, a dispensing device 1 is shown, mounted in the delivery opening 2 of a liquid supply container 3 which is drawn cut off in Fig. 1 and 2. Dispensing device 1 comprises a valve 4, engagement means 5 and a metering bottle 6. Valve 4 is a rotary disk valve consisting of a stationary part 7 and a rotary disk 8. Valve parts 7 and 8 have eccentrically located throughlet openings 9 and 10 which are in juxtaposition when valve 4 is open (Fig.1). Engagement means 5 comprises an adaptor part 11 which holds stationary part 7 securely fixed, and an open screw cap 12 for holding adaptor part 11 positionally fixed in delivery opening 2. Neck 13 of dosing bottle 6 co-operates with adaptor part 11, the combination constituting a bayonet type fixing. To this purpose neck 13 is provided with a bayonet stop 14 falling into bayonet notch 15 of adaptor part 11. In mounted position mouth 15 of bottle 6 is engaged in throughlet opening 10 of rotary disk 8. To ensure leak-free operation, O-rings 16, 17 and 18 are provided. A container and dispenser combination under use conditions is shown in Fig. 3, a cradle 19 holding the combination in such position that liquid product is deliverable by gravity flow through delivery opening 2. In the position as shown in Fig. 1, bottle 6 is filled by gravity flow with the liquid product from the container. The shape of bottle 6 is such that in this arrangement cavity 20 functions as an air trap, remaining free from liquid product. Bottle 6 is not detachable from the delivery opening by pulling action due to the bayonet fixing (stop 14 and notch 15). By 180°-rotary movement of bottle 6 along the central axis of the delivery opening 2, the dispensing device is brought into the position as shown in Fig. 2. Owing to engagement of mouth 15 in throughlet opening 10, rotary movement of the bottle results in rotary movement of disk 8 such that after 180°-rotation the valve is in closed position (Fig. 2). The position of the bottle is now such that cavity 20 can no longer function as air trap and accordingly is filled by gravity flow with liquid from the bottle. Valve 4 being closed, the rotary movement of the bottle results in air being displaced to neck 13 of the bottle. In this position (Fig. 2), bottle 6 can be detached from the delivery opening by a simple pulling action. Since neck 13 is free from liquid, there is no risk of dripping. After discharge of its contents bottle 6 can be simply inserted into the position as shown in Fig. 2 and refilled by a 180°-rotation to the position as shown in Fig.1. The various parts can be manufactured from any suitable material, in particular mouldable plastics and the like. The valve and dosing bottle can be fitted to containers having different types of delivery openings by using adapted types of engagement means. The dispensing device can be provided with a set of metering bottles having similar geometry of neck and mouth parts, but differing in size so that the user may select the dosing quantity he desires.

Claims: 1. A combination of a container (3) for liquid and a device (1) for dispensing metered quantities of liquid therefrom, the container being movable from a storage position to a dispensing position at which liquid is deliverable from the container by gravity flow, characterized in that the dispensing device comprises a valve (4) engaged in the delivery opening (2) of the container and capable of controlling the flow of liquid therefrom, and a metering bottle (6) engageable in the delivery opening and movable from a first position at which the bottle is capable of receiving liquid from the container, to a second position at which the bottle is disengageable from the delivery opening, the bottle having a shape such that in the first position an air pocket is retained inside it, which is displaced by liquid and transferred to a position adjacent to the valve by movement of the bottle to the second position. 2. A combination according to Claim 1 wherein the bottle (6) is co-operable with the valve (4) in that the valve is operable by movement of the bottle between the first and the second position. 3. A combination according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the bottle (6) is movable between the first and the second position by rotary movement. 4. A combination according to Claim 3 wherein the valve (4) is a rotary disk valve. 5. A combination according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the arrangement is such that the bottle is disengageable from the container only in the second position. 6. A combination according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the bottle is engageable in the delivery opening by a bayonet fixing.

Inventors: HOWARD, JOHN ALBAN
Applicants: UNILEVER NV, UNILEVER PLC
Application year: 1986
Main classification: G01F11
IPC codes: G01F11