Abstract:
A device for dispensing a liquid medium ( 26 ) from a container ( 1 ), comprising a housing ( 13 ), a metering drum ( 2 ) accommodated therein and a sealing disk ( 14 ), the housing ( 13 ) having a drum outlet ( 3 ) and a system air admission structure ( 22 ), and the sealing disk ( 14 ) having an admission opening ( 12 ) and a drum inlet ( 4 ). The metering drum ( 2 ) comprises a metering chamber ( 5 ), a chamber outlet ( 6 ) and a chamber inlet ( 7 ). The metering drum ( 2 ) further has a rotary valve ( 8 ), said rotary valve ( 8 ), in a first working position, connecting the drum inlet ( 4 ) to the chamber inlet ( 7 ) while closing the chamber outlet ( 6 ), thereby admitting air to the container ( 1 ) and removing air from the metering chamber ( 5 ). In a second working position, The metering drum ( 2 ) closes the chamber inlet ( 7 ) while connecting the drum outlet ( 3 ) to the chamber outlet ( 6 ), thereby further admitting air to the metering chamber ( 5 ) and the air admission channel ( 11 ) being connected to the system air admission structure ( 22 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a device for dispensing a liquid medium. 
         [0002]    Drip-feed systems on bottles, which function in the overhead position through the release of a single drop from the bottle neck with integrated dropper insert, are known from the prior art. In this context, reference is made to DE 10 2011 106 261 A1. 
         [0003]    The known systems all have problems with the bottle aeration, so that, according to the bottle position and surface tension of the liquid to be metered, a drip is fed or not. 
         [0004]    If the user shakes the bottle during the drop process, a plurality of drops can also escape simultaneously from the dropper insert. 
         [0005]    If the patient information leaflet, for example, prescribes 20 drops, then the operator must count the desired drop quantity. In the event of constantly arising failures of the system, namely it fails to drip, a plurality of drops come at once, the counting becomes very troublesome and the consumer is guided by his quantity estimate and feeling. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The object of the invention is to provide a device which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art. 
         [0007]    The object is achieved by virtue of the features disclosed herein. 
         [0008]    A device according to the invention for dispensing a liquid medium serves to dispense a certain number of drops of a medium from a container. The container here normally consists of glass or plastic. The container is connected to a housing by standard connection methods. For instance, the housing can be screwed on or clipped on. The housing contains a metering drum, which is accommodated therein, and a sealing disk. 
         [0009]    In addition, the housing has a drum outlet and a system aeration facility, and the sealing disk has an aeration opening and a drum inlet. The metering drum, in turn, has a metering chamber, a chamber outlet and a chamber inlet. This is normally a case of bores or openings which serve for the through-flow of the liquid medium or the passage of air. 
         [0010]    The metering drum comprises a rotary valve. The rotary valve is arranged on the housing such that it is rotatable in a semicircle. It is here rotatable similarly to a turn-lock fastening of a bottle, though no 360° rotation, but instead only a 180° to 270° rotation, takes place. 
         [0011]    The rotary valve is set such that, in a first working position, it connects the drum inlet to the chamber inlet and closes the chamber outlet, and an aeration of the container and a deaeration of the metering chamber is realized. The first working position is generally constituted substantially by the first end point of the rotary motion of the rotary valve. The rotary valve is fixedly connected to the metering drum. This means that the metering drum reproduces the motion predefined by the rotary valve. 
         [0012]    In the second working position of the rotary valve, the arrangement is such that the metering drum closes the chamber inlet and a further aeration of the metering chamber is realized, and the aeration duct is connected to the system aeration facility. The second working position is constituted substantially by the second end point of the rotary motion of the rotary valve. 
         [0013]    Although intermediate settings between the first working position and the second working position also ensure functioning of the device, the functionality increases the closer their location is to the two end positions of the rotary motion. 
         [0014]    Furthermore, the drum outlet has an aeration duct, which is intended to serve for the aeration of the total system. Through the aeration duct, according to the position of the metering drum, either the metering chamber or the container is supplied with air from outside, wherein the aeration duct, according to the working position, either establishes with the a connection between the metering chamber and the external atmosphere for deaeration purposes, or establishes a connection between the external atmosphere and the inside of the container. 
         [0015]    Between the container and the metering drum is arranged a sealing disk, wherein the sealing disk is static to the metering drum. This means that the metering drum rotates relative to the sealing disk. To this end, the sealing disk has rotation locking mechanisms, which are accommodated either in the housing or on the neck of the container. 
         [0016]    The sealing disk comprises the drum inlet and an aeration opening. Moreover, the metering chamber is constructed such that, in the first working position, a bypass to the aeration duct can be arranged. In the second working position, a further bypass between the metering chamber and the aeration duct can be arranged. The bypasses enable better functioning of the aeration of the individual parts, according to the working position of the metering drum. 
         [0017]    The aeration duct can be brought, in the first working position, into operative connection with the aeration opening of the sealing disk. Furthermore, the metering chamber and the chamber inlet are arranged eccentrically in the metering drum. 
         [0018]    The aeration duct is arranged eccentrically in the metering drum. The aeration opening and the drum inlet are arranged eccentrically in the sealing disk. This enables better functionality of the individual parts during the rotary motion of the metering drum. 
         [0019]    The metering chamber is tapered from the chamber inlet to the chamber outlet. This has the advantage that the surface tension of the liquid medium to be metered can be better broken and better outflowing of the liquid medium is enabled. 
         [0020]    he metering drum is arranged rotatably in the housing. The metering drum is sealed off from the housing. 
         [0021]    In addition, protection for a use of a device for dispensing a liquid medium by means of the following steps is claimed:
       the device is brought into a fill setting;   the rotary valve is rotated into the first working position, so that the metering chamber is filled from the container;   the rotary valve is rotated into the second working position, so that the metering chamber is emptied via the drum outlet.       
 
         [0025]    With the new idea, a fixedly set volume, drop quantity is intended to be made available to the operator, with the background that the consumer has the same handling (overhead operation) as with the known dropper systems. 
         [0026]    For the drug manufacturer, the idea should likewise contribute to greater security in the application of the product, since an unwanted underdosage or overdosage due to the miscounting of the drops by the operator or due to the system dripping or not dripping, is no longer possible. 
         [0027]    In order to apply different drop quantities, metering quantities, the system with different predosing drop quantities, for example 5, 10, 20 drops as the total drop volume, is offered to the pharmaceutical industry. 
         [0028]    The device according to the invention serves for the metering of a desired drop quantity of liquid products. This can be a case of drugs, cosmetics, oils, liquid products. 
         [0029]    The metering system can be employed on glass bottles, plastics bottles, tubes or other containers. 
         [0030]    The device according to the invention constitutes a drop metering unit, mountable on a container, in the form of a reservoir metering unit of a plurality of combined drops as the metering volume. 
         [0031]    In this context, “mountable” means that the drop metering unit can be screwed, clamped, clipped or otherwise mounted onto a bottle or similar container. 
         [0032]    In the drop metering unit according to the invention, a metering drum is integrated in the drop metering housing, which metering drum can be manually rotated radially in the longitudinal axis of the system. 
         [0033]    This means specifically that the drop metering unit receives the metering drum. The drum is arranged rotatably on or in the drop metering unit. The metering drum has a metering chamber, which is longitudinally arranged outside the system axis and thus rotates about the longitudinal axis of the metering drum. 
         [0034]    In order to ensure the various system functions, such as aeration and deaeration of the metering chamber and bottle, as well as dispensing of the metered liquid quantity from the metering chamber with the required air diversion in conjunction with the leak-tightness of the system, the metering chamber rotates in the drum about the center axis. 
         [0035]    The aeration bores, pour-out opening and liquid inlet are likewise disposed outside the central system axis. 
         [0036]    The size, extent, volume, content or surface character of the metering chamber is adaptable to the products to be dispensed. 
         [0037]    Preferredly, the metering chamber is of asymmetrical, or possibly cylindrical configuration. 
         [0038]    The metering chamber cooperates with the active agent container, for example a bottle, in the aeration and deaeration, and also the filling, of the metering chamber. 
         [0039]    This means that only liquid runs into the metering chamber if the system is used in an overhead setting and if, at the same time, air gets into the bottle, wherein the metering chamber must likewise, at the same time, be deventilated. 
         [0040]    In order to make the liquid flow out of the metering chamber, the metering drum is manually rotated radially through approximately 90°-180. 
         [0041]    In this state, the metering chamber is located over the discharge opening of the drop metering unit, and the liquid inflow from the active agent container is closed off. 
         [0042]    Via an air branching of the bottle aeration, in this position air is guided behind the filled volume in the metering drum and metering chamber, so that the metered drop volume can flow out via the discharge opening. 
         [0043]    The metering drum consists of a part having an actuating element for the rotation of the drum. 
         [0044]    The metering drum is enclosed by the tubular metering housing, wherein, in the lower region toward the bottle, a sealing disk with the liquid inlet and the bottle aeration bore seals off the system from the bottle. 
         [0045]    On the side of the tubular metering housing is a radial slot to allow rotation of the metering drum via the actuating element. 
         [0046]    The tubular metering unit is sealed off from the atmosphere with a protective cap and protected against contamination. 
         [0047]    In order to make the working of the system easier for the operator, symbols on the actuating element, in conjunction with the outer wall of the drop metering unit, indicate the position of the actuating element, for example “Fill” for the prefill position, the number 10 for 10 drops, and the liquid pour-out in the form of an outflowing drop. 
         [0048]    The drop metering unit consists of 3-4 parts, the drop metering housing, the metering drum with actuating element and the sealing disk for sealing off the active agent container. 
         [0049]    The system can be provided with a screw-in or plug-in protective cap. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0050]    Further advantages, features and details emerge from the following description of preferred illustrative embodiments, wherein: 
           [0051]      FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view of an apparatus according to the invention; 
           [0052]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of a further illustrative embodiment of a device according to the invention; 
           [0053]      FIG. 3  illustrates a further embodiment of a device according to the invention; 
           [0054]      FIG. 4  illustrates a device for dispensing liquid medium and including a container according to the invention; 
           [0055]      FIG. 5  is an unsectioned view of a device for dispensing liquid medium according to the invention; 
           [0056]      FIG. 6  shows a radial section of a device for dispensing liquid medium according to the invention; 
           [0057]      FIG. 7  shows a radial section through a device according to the invention; 
           [0058]      FIG. 8  shows a radial section through a further device according to the invention; 
           [0059]      FIG. 9  illustrates first working position of a device in accordance with the invention; 
           [0060]      FIG. 10  illustrates a device according to the invention longitudinal section; 
           [0061]      FIG. 11  is a top view of a sealing disk with drum inlet in accordance with the invention; 
           [0062]      FIG. 12  is a sectional side view of a metering drum according to the invention; 
           [0063]      FIG. 13  is a top view of the metering drum; 
           [0064]      FIG. 14  is a section side view of a housing according to the invention; 
           [0065]      FIG. 15  is a sectional top view according to the invention; and 
           [0066]      FIGS. 16 and 17  are sectional top views of the housing and additional parts of the apparatus according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0067]      FIG. 1  shows a sectioned view of a device for dispensing a liquid medium  26 , comprising a container  1  and a protective cap  15 , wherein, with respect to a housing  13  and the container  1 , two theoretically possible embodiments are represented in this figure, for viewing reasons, in combination. 
         [0068]    The first illustrative embodiment shows a shrink fastening  18  between the container  1  and the correspondingly shaped housing  13 . 
         [0069]    The second illustrative embodiment shows a threaded fastening  19  between the container  1  and the correspondingly threaded housing  13 . The protective cap  15  is respectively tailored to the two illustrative embodiments. 
         [0070]    The housing  13  comprises a rotary valve slot  20 , a drum outlet  3  and a system aeration facility  22 , which, for diagrammatic reasons, is not represented. A metering drum  2 , which is represented in a first working position, is arranged in a rotationally movable manner within the housing  13 . 
         [0071]    The metering drum  2  has a metering chamber  5 , an aeration duct  11  and, in this embodiment, a rotary valve  8 . The metering chamber  5  and the aeration duct  11  are respectively sited eccentrically in the metering drum  5 . Furthermore, in the represented illustrative embodiment, the metering drum  2  possesses two circumferential seals  16  and  16 . 1 , which seal off the metering drum  2  from the housing  13 . 
         [0072]    The metering chamber  5  possesses a chamber inlet  7  and a chamber outlet  6 . The chamber inlet  7  is aligned with the container  1 , the chamber outlet  6  lies opposite and is correspondingly applied by the container  1 . In the shown first working position, the chamber inlet  7  establishes, via a drum inlet  4  of a sealing disk  14 , a connection to the container  1 . 
         [0073]    The metering chamber  5  is shaped such that it tapers from the chamber inlet  7  toward the chamber outlet  6 . 
         [0074]    Furthermore, a semicircular bypass opening  21  is disposed on the chamber inlet  7  of the metering chamber  5 . In a second working position (not shown), a contact is established, via this bypass opening  21 , between a second bypass  10  and the aeration duct  11 . 
         [0075]    Moreover, at the chamber outlet  6  of the metering chamber  5  is arranged a first bypass  9 . The first bypass  9  constitutes a connection to the aeration duct  11  or to the drum outlet  3 , so that, when the metering chamber  5  is filled with a medium  26  from the container  1 , air can escape from the metering chamber  5 . 
         [0076]    In the second working position (not represented), the aeration duct  11  or the first bypass  9  is connected to the system aeration facility  22  (not represented) of the housing  13 . 
         [0077]    The rotary valve  8  engages from inside in the rotary valve slot  20 , so that, from outside the housing  13 , the rotary valve  8  can be displaced, whereby the metering drum  2  is rotated in the housing  13 . A switch can thereby be made from the first into the second working position. 
         [0078]    The sealing disk  14  separates the metering drum  2  from the container  1  and is arranged immovably relative to the container  1  and the housing  13 . An aeration opening  12  and the drum inlet  4  are likewise arranged eccentrically on the sealing disk  14 . 
         [0079]    In this illustrative embodiment, the aeration duct  11  is of tubular design and, in the represented first working position, connects the drum outlet  3  of the housing  13  to the aeration opening  12  of the sealing disk  14 , and thus to the inside of the container  1 . 
         [0080]    In  FIG. 2 , a further illustrative embodiment of a device for dispensing a liquid medium  26 , comprising a container  1  and a protective cap  15 , is represented in a sectioned view. 
         [0081]    Here it can be seen that the sealing disk  14  has at the site of the aeration opening  12  an additional aeration tube  23 . The aeration tube  12  reaches into the inside of the container  1  and bridges the elongate container neck  27  having the threaded fastening  19 . 
         [0082]    A further embodiment-dictated difference is presented by the housing  13 , which possesses a bulge  28  that forms a point of support for the protective cap  15 . 
         [0083]    Further differences (apparent in this figure) from the embodiment from  FIG. 1  concern the metering drum  2 . This possesses, instead of the rotary valve  8 , a drum valve  24 . The drum valve is not a constituent part of the metering drum  2 . The drum valve  24  is connected from outside as a separate component, through the rotary valve slot  20  of the housing  13 , to the metering drum  2 . The drum valve  24  is semicircular and runs halfway around the housing  13 . This is illustrated in the following figures. 
         [0084]    In addition, the metering drum  2  possesses a drum valve detent  25 . Moreover, the seal  16 . 2  is configured such that it varies slightly in comparison to the seal  16 . 1  from  FIG. 1 . 
         [0085]    Further elements of the metering drum  2 , such as, for instance, the metering chamber  5 , are not represented for diagrammatic reasons. Apart from the described differences, the structure and the working is in this illustrative embodiment identical with the illustrative embodiment described in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0086]    In  FIG. 3 , a further illustrative embodiment of a device for dispensing the liquid medium  26 , comprising the container  1 , is represented in a sectioned view. In this illustrative embodiment, the situation of the second working position, in which the metering drum  2  closes the chamber inlet  7  (not visible) and connects the drum outlet  3  to the chamber outlet  6 , is represented. A further aeration of the metering chamber  5  is here realized via the second bypass  10  and the aeration duct  11 , which is connected to the system aeration facility  22  (not visible for diagrammatic reasons), so that the medium  26  can flow out of the metering chamber  5 . 
         [0087]    In addition, the semicircular drum valve  25  is discernible. In this illustrative embodiment, the threaded fastening  19  has been used and the sealing disk  14  corresponds to the embodiment shown likewise in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0088]    In  FIG. 4 , a device for dispensing the liquid medium  26 , comprising the container  1 , is represented. As already represented in  FIG. 3 , the situation of the second working setting, in which the medium  26  flows out of the metering chamber  5  (not visible) and via the drum outlet  3 , is shown. In addition, the drum valve  24  can here be seen, how it is arranged in a semicircle around the housing  13 . Here too, the connection to the container  1  is established via a threaded fastening  19 . 
         [0089]    In  FIG. 5 , an unsectioned view of a device for dispensing the liquid medium  26 , comprising the container  1 , is represented. In contrast to the represented situation from  FIG. 4 , here the situation of the first working position is represented. In this, the drum inlet  4  is connected to the chamber inlet  7  and the chamber outlet  6  is closed, wherein the aeration of the container  1  is realized via the aeration opening  12  or the aeration duct  11  or the drum outlet  3 . A deaeration of the metering chamber  5  is realized via the first bypass  9 . Although, for diagrammatic reasons, this cannot be seen, it can be reproduced in the representation in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0090]      FIG. 6  shows a radial section of a device for dispensing the liquid medium  26  through the metering chamber  5 , with a view into the metering drum  2  and into the aeration duct  11 . 
         [0091]      FIG. 7  shows a radial section through a device for dispensing the liquid medium  26 . This radial section allows the view through the aeration duct  11  onto the aeration opening  12 . Moreover, the first bypass  9  is represented. 
         [0092]    In  FIG. 8 , a radial section through a device for dispensing the liquid medium  26  in the region of the drum valve  24 , of the drum valve detent  25  and of the metering chamber  5  is represented. 
         [0093]    In  FIG. 9 , the first working position of a device for dispensing the liquid medium  26  is represented in longitudinal section in an overhead position. In this situation, the medium  26  runs out of the container  1 , via the sealing disk  14  with the drum inlet  4 , into the metering chamber  5 , wherein the deaeration of the metering chamber  5  is realized via the first bypass  9 . The container aeration is realized via the aeration opening  12  of the sealing disk  14  and via the aeration duct  11  and via the drum outlet  3 . 
         [0094]    The sealing disk  14  with the aeration opening  12  also seals off the system from the container  1  and from the atmosphere, wherein the geometry of the sealing disk  14  is provided with a centering element  29  and is hence twistproof relative to the housing  13  and the container  1 . 
         [0095]    In  FIG. 10 , a device for dispensing the liquid medium  26  is represented as a longitudinal section with sealing-off seals  16 . 3  and  16 . 4 , the protective cap  15  and the protective cap anchorage  17 . The section shows the system in the first working position, screwed onto the container  1 . 
         [0096]    In  FIG. 11 , a top view of the sealing disk  14  with the drum inlet  4 , the aeration opening  12  and the two centering elements  29  can be seen. The drum inlet  4  and the aeration opening  12  are arranged eccentrically on the sealing disk  14 . 
         [0097]    In  FIG. 12 , a sectioned side view of the metering drum  2  is represented. This latter comprises the rotary valve  8 , the aeration duct  11 , the metering chamber  5 , the seals  16  and  16 . 2 , and the first bypass  9  and second bypass  10 , which connect the aeration duct  11  and the metering chamber  5 . 
         [0098]    In  FIG. 13 , a top view of the metering drum  2  can be seen. In this, the metering chamber  5 , the aeration duct  11 , the first bypass  9  and the externally adjoining rotary valve  8  can be seen 
         [0099]    In  FIG. 14 , a sectioned side view of the housing  13  is represented. In this illustrative embodiment, the housing  13  comprises the shrink fastening  18 , by which it is connected to the container  1 . In addition, the rotary valve slot  20  is represented, as well as the drum outlet  3  and the system aeration facility  22 . 
         [0100]    In  FIG. 15 , a sectioned top view of the housing  13  can be seen. Here the eccentric arrangement of the metering chamber  5  and of the aeration duct  11  inside the housing  13  can be seen. 
         [0101]    In  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 17 , a sectioned top view of the housing  13  and parts of the metering drum  2  can be seen. By the dashed lines, the rotary motion of the metering drum  2  relative to the fixed housing  13  is represented. All constituent parts which are shown there have already been repeatedly described in the previous figures.