Patent Abstract:
Aerosol container for use in a dispenser machine. The aerosol container comprises a container body comprising an exhaust opening provided with a valve. The aerosol container further comprises a spout having a spout housing. The spout housing is fixed to the container body. The spout housing circumferences the valve. The spout comprises an inner actuating mechanism for actuating the valve to an open position. The mechanism comprises a drive member to be driven by a drive component of the dispenser machine and an actuator member to act the valve to said open position. The aerosol container has a simple and compact configuration. The provided aerosol container and dispenser machine provide a system in particular suitable for public and working environments, like factories.

Full Description:
This application claims the benefit of and priority to The Netherlands patent application number 2004674, filed May 6, 2010, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an aerosol container. The invention relates preferably to a soap aerosol container, more preferably to a foaming soap aerosol container. The aerosol container has a container body and a spout. Further, the invention relates to a dispenser machine for use in combination with the aerosol container. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A dispenser machine to be used with an aerosol container is disclosed in EP1.695.720. The disclosure relates to an automatic air freshener comprising an upright base for mounting on a vertical wall and having upper and lower housings to receive an aerosol can containing a supply of fragrance for discharge in a spray or jet from the can. The upper housing has a battery powered mechanism for causing the aerosol to be discharged periodically and the lower housing has a control panel and a display screen. At the upper end of the can there is a spray head mounted on a plunger of the valve for operating the aerosol and provided with a horizontally acting jet nozzle for delivering a spray of fragrance horizontally from the head when the head is displaced downwardly against the powerful action of a return spring in the can to trigger opening of the valve of the aerosol. Depressing the spray head causes a predetermined quantity of fragrance to be dispersed. 
     The known dispenser machine uses a common aerosol container with a commonly known spray head. The common aerosol container with spray head can be used in combination with a lot of other devices but can also be used stand alone and manually operated. 
     The fact that the aerosol container can be emptied easily without using the dispenser machine is problematic. Someone only needs to depress the spray head which will discharge product from the aerosol container. For this reason the aerosol container and corresponding dispenser machine is less suitable to be installed at public spaces. Misuse of the aerosol container is badly protected. Product can easily be spoiled at the public place. In particular, when the product is soap, vandals may change a public space into a wet sticky environment. 
     In particular, the dispenser machine does not satisfy to given requirements to install the dispenser machine at public places. To be installed at public places, the dispenser machine needs to be vandalism proof. It is an existing problem that aerosol containers are stolen from public places for use at home. 
     DE 10.2007.049.334 discloses an aerosol container. The aerosol container is designed as a stand alone aerosol container. The aerosol container includes a cam profile inside a spout housing to operate a valve of a container body. The aerosol container has a lever which is connected with the cam profile. The lever extends out of the spout housing and suits a manual operation. The lever may be pivoted to press the cam profile downwards over an adjustable travel distance. The cam profile is rotatable connected to the spout housing to adjust this travel distance. 
     A drawback of this aerosol container is that the aerosol container has a lever which has to be operated by hand. In case that the aerosol container is a foam aerosol container, the operation by dirty hands will at least contaminate the lever. In addition, the aerosol container can be emptied easily without dispenser machine which make the aerosol dispenser vulnerable for misuse and vandalism. It is an object of the present invention to at least partially eliminate the above mentioned drawbacks and/or to provide a useable alternative. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a vandalism proof aerosol container and dispenser machine. 
     SUMMARY 
     This object is achieved by an aerosol container as disclosed herein. According to the invention, an aerosol container is provided for use in a dispenser machine. The aerosol container comprises a container body for containing a product and a propellant. The propellant may be DME which is dimethyl ether. The propellant may be dissolved in the product. Preferably, the container body is filled with product. The container body may be a so called bag on valve aerosol. The container body of a bag on valve aerosol comprises a bag which may be filled with product and pressurized air as a propellant. The container body has a bottom end, a cylindrical wall which defines an axial direction and a top end. The top end comprises an opening provided with a valve, in particular a stem valve. The stem valve includes a hollow stem for discharging product from the container body. The valve is actuable to an open position and normally closed in a closed position. 
     The aerosol container according to the invention further comprises a spout having a spout housing. The spout housing is fixed to the container body. The aerosol container with container body and spout is a disposable aerosol container. The spout housing circumferences the valve. The spout housing has an outer wall and an outlet opening which is in fluid communication with the opening of the container body for discharging product from the aerosol container. The spout comprises an inner actuating mechanism for actuating the valve to said open position. The valve may be actuated by tilting or axially moving the hollow stem. The inner actuating mechanism comprises an actuator member to act on the valve to act the valve to said open position. The actuator member comprises a cam profile which is connected to the valve such that an axial movement of the cam profile causes an axial movement of the hollow stem to open or close the valve. 
     The aerosol container is improved in that the cam profile is connected to the spout housing by at least one lock member to prevent a rotation of the cam profile with respect to the spout housing and to permit an axial movement of the cam profile with respect to the spout housing. Advantageously, the rotational lockage of the cam profile with respect to the spout housing allows a rotational actuation about an axial axis to move the actuator member in axial direction. The at least one lock member prevents that the cam profile of the spout rotates together with a rotating enganging element, which may comprise a cam profile in mirrored orientation. This engaging rotational cam profile is in this application indicated as a first cam profile and the cam profile which is blocked in rotation and connected to the spout housing is indicated as a second cam profile. Advantageously, the arrangement of the actuator member including the cam profile allows a compact configuration of the actuator mechanism. 
     In an embodiment of the aerosol container, the cam profile has an at least two fold rotational symmetry. Particularly, the cam profile comprises a cam surface which has at least two depressions and at least two elevations in axial direction. The cam profile may comprise a cylindrical body including a central axis which extends in the axial direction of the container body. The at least two elevations are positioned opposite each other with respect to the central axis through the cylindrical body. The rotational symmetry may prevent a tilting movement of the valve. The rotational symmetry of the cam profile causes a more pure axial movement of the valve which may advantageously provide a better control of dispensing of product. 
     In an embodiment of the aerosol container, the at least one lock member has a ring body which circumferences the cam profile of the actuator body. The at least one lock member is ring shaped. The ring body is fixed to the outer wall of the spout housing at two opposite positioned outer fixation points and fixed to the actuator member ( 59 ) by two opposite positioned inner fixation points. Advantageously, the ring shaped lock member provides a compact configuration. 
     In an embodiment of the aerosol container, the actuating mechanism comprises a primary drive member to be driven by the dispenser machine and an actuator member to act the stem valve to said open position. The outer wall of the spout, the outer spout wall, includes an access opening to access the actuating mechanism and to drive the primary drive member from outside the outer wall by a drive component of the aerosol dispenser machine. 
     The spout fixed at the top end of the container body may provide a robust protection against vandalism. The spout cannot be removed easily by hand from the container body. An attempt of removing the spout will highly likely damage the aerosol container such that the spout and/or the aerosol container body cannot be used anymore. 
     The spout housing conceals the hollow stem of the stem valve. The stem valve is shielded by the spout housing and cannot easily or preferably not at all be operated by a person&#39;s finger. The stem valve is actuable by an inner arranged actuating mechanism which can be operated via the access opening. The access opening may be small. The access opening may have such a cross sectional dimension e.g. smaller than at most 0.5 cm to prevent a person to operate the inner actuating mechanism by a finger. Preferably, the primary drive member is arranged fully inside the spout housing. The primary drive member may be arranged without external extending parts to disable an external engagement to the primary drive member from outside the spout housing and to allow only internal engagement via the access opening. Herewith, a person cannot easily misuse the aerosol container by a manual operation. The aerosol container according to the invention is protected to prevent a spill of product. 
     For these reasons of getting damaged when attempting and non-manually operability, advantageously, the aerosol container is of less interest for individuals to steal the aerosol container from public places for use at other locations. Generally, a person will understand that he cannot use the aerosol container at home without the corresponding dispenser machine and will leave the aerosol container and dispenser machine in function. Herewith, the dispenser machine and relating aerosol container may be more vandalism proof, which makes the dispenser machine more suitable to be used at public or semi-public spaces. A public space is e.g. a sanitary room at an airport or petrol station. A semi-public space is e.g a sanitary room of a hotel or a personnel area of a company. 
     In an embodiment of the aerosol container according to the invention, the actuator member is linear movable to move the hollow stem in axial direction to the open position. The stem valve is normally closed when the hollow stem is non-tilted and not depressed in axial direction towards the container body. A resilient element returns the hollow stem in an initial closed position. A tilting movement of the hollow stem generally requires less force than a linear movement of the hollow stem to open the stem valve. The actuator member acts the hollow stem preferably in axial direction by a linear movement. Preferably, the valve of the container body is of a press down valve type which permits only an axial actuation. A required amount of force may be so large that a manual operation is hardly possible. This may make the aerosol container further vandalism proof. 
     In an embodiment of the aerosol container according to the invention the primary drive member is rotatable mounted in the spout housing. A rotation of the primary drive member is transferred to a movement of the actuator member to act the stem valve. Preferably, the movement of the actuator member is a linear movement, a translation, in the axial direction. The primary drive member may be a rotatable wheel. The wheel may be a Geneva wheel, a friction wheel, but is preferably a toothed gear wheel or pinion. The gear wheel is rotatable and may have a journal bearing in the spout housing. The gear wheel is except from some play not movable in axial direction. The transfer from a rotation to a translation allows a generation of a strong force which may be necessary to operate the stem valve. 
     In operation, the gear wheel will engage with the drive component of the dispenser machine. Preferably, the gear wheel is made of a softer material than the material of the drive component of the dispenser machine e.g. plastic versus steel to prevent wear of the drive component. Preferably, the gear wheel is a toothed gear wheel. The toothed gear wheel may be a bevel gear wheel. Preferably, the toothed gear wheel is a radial gear wheel. The radial gear wheel may obtain an engagement with the drive component of the dispenser machine by moving the aerosol container in the radial direction to obtain a tooth engagement. A radial tooth engagement may provide a reliable engagement between the dispenser machine and the aerosol container. 
     In an embodiment of the aerosol container according to the invention, the primary drive member comprises a rotatable gear wheel. Further, the transfer from a rotation to a translation may be arranged by a pair of a first and second cam profiles. The first cam profile is rotatable and connected to said gear wheel. The first cam profile is preferably integrated with the gear wheel. The gear wheel and first cam profile are preferably made out of one piece, e.g. by injection molding. The second cam profile may be connected to the actuator member or may be made with the actuator member out of one piece. The second cam profile may be integral with the actuator member. The gear wheel and the pair of cam profiles may be concentrically positioned with respect to the hollow stem of the stem valve. The first and second cam profiles have a profiled cam surface comprising at least one depression and at least one elevation. The second cam profile is linear movable in axial direction positioned opposite the first cam profile such that a relative rotation of the first cam profile with respect to the second cam profile causes the second cam profile to move in the axial direction, wherein the actuator member comprising the second cam profile is in engagement with the stem valve such that the axial movement of the second cam profile causes an axial movement of the hollow stem to open or close the stem valve. The cam surfaces of the pair of cam profiles are positioned opposite each other. In case that respectively an elevation of the first and an elevation of the second cam profile are positioned opposite each other, the cam profiles are positioned axially away form each other and when an elevation of the first and a depression of the second cam profile are positioned opposite each other, the cam profiles are positioned axially close to each other. Advantageously, the transfer comprising the pair of cam profiles may provide a reliable transfer of forces and movements to act the stem valve of the container body. 
     In an embodiment of the aerosol container according to the invention, the cooperating cam surfaces of the first and second cam profile comprise each at least two elevations, in particular three elevations. In contact, the two or three elevations may provide respectively two or three contact lines. The two, but preferably three contact lines may increase a stable support of the first cam profile to the second cam profile. 
     In an embodiment the aerosol container according to the invention is a soap aerosol container. The product in the container body then is soap, for example hand soap for washing a person&#39;s hands. The soap aerosol container is for use in a dispenser machine. The soap aerosol container is preferably positioned upside down in the dispenser machine to prevent hardening of soap in the hollow stem of the stem valve. The soap aerosol container is upside down when the spout is positioned beneath the container body. The soap aerosol container may be loaded in the dispenser machine, wherein the spout is positioned into a receiving chamber of the dispenser machine. 
     In an embodiment of the aerosol container according to the invention, the spout opening comprises a drip stop valve to stop dripping of product from the aerosol container after a discharge. In particular, when the product is a foaming soap, residue of the product may be left in the hollow stem after a discharge operation. After a time, the residue may leak out of the hollow stem. Residue of foamed soap in the hollow stem may then collapse and drip slowly out of the hollow stem. Advantageously, the drip stop valve may be arranged to prevent leaking of product out of the hollow stem to prevent dripping. 
     In an embodiment of the aerosol container according to the invention, the drip stop valve comprises a stopper and a stopper seat, wherein the stopper seat is connected or integral with the outer wall and wherein the stopper is connected to the axially movable actuator member. In a preferred embodiment, the stopper is needle shaped. The stopper may be elongated and hollow. The stopper may be axially aligned with the hollow stem of the stem valve. The hollow stopper may be out of one piece with the actuator member. Advantageously, the stopper, the second axial cam profile and the contacting surface of the actuator member may be made out of one piece. The actuator member may be made by injecting molding. The hollow stopper may be in fluid communication with the hollow stem. 
     In an embodiment of the aerosol container according to the invention, the aerosol container comprises orientation means to orient the aerosol container in a predetermined orientation and unambiguously in the dispenser machine. The orientation means may be provided on the container body. Preferably, the orientation means are provided on the spout housing. The spout housing may comprise a spout lock to orient the aerosol container in a receiving chamber of the dispenser machine. The spout lock may be e.g. a flat surface at the outer wall of the spout housing. The spout lock defines a position in rotation of the aerosol container with respect to the dispenser machine. Advantageously, the spout lock orients the aerosol container in the dispenser machine, such that the access opening included in the spout housing directs to the drive component of the dispenser machine. Additionally, the spout lock may be positioned at a canned aerosol container such that a longitudinal extending seam at the outer surface of the container body is oriented to the backside of the dispenser machine. 
     In an embodiment of the aerosol container according to the invention may have a recognizing means at an outer surface which corresponds with a type of a contained product. The aerosol container may have at least one protrusion which is indicative of the product in the container body. The dispenser machine may comprise at least one relating cooperating recognizing means e.g. a microswitch to recognize the presence and/or type of an aerosol container in a storage space of the dispenser machine. Pinion of different height, or positioning may be used to trigger the microswitches to recognize the type of loaded aerosol container. 
     In an embodiment of the aerosol container according to the invention, the access opening may be covered by a removable cover before use. Generally, the aerosol container is a disposable aerosol container. A user may note a covered access opening which may provide a clear indication that the aerosol container is still unused. A cover for the access opening may further be advantageous in that it may prevent the access opening and inner actuating mechanism from contaminations. The cover may be a simple piece of tape. The tape may be pulled away by a user. The cover may alternatively be a hard cover. The hard cover may be shifted away during loading in the dispenser machine when the aerosol container is put in the receiving chamber. 
     Further, the invention relates to a dispenser machine for use in combination with an aerosol container according to the invention. The dispenser machine and corresponding aerosol container may be technically complementary to each other as a socket and corresponding plug. The dispenser machine has technical features which are specifically designed to interact with complementary technical features of the aerosol container. 
     The invention further relates to a system comprising a dispenser machine and/or an aerosol container. 
     The invention further relates to a use of an aerosol container in a dispenser machine. 
     The invention further relates to a method for dispensing a product from an aerosol container by using a dispenser machine. 
     Further preferred embodiments are defined in the subclaims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the appended drawings. The drawings show a practical embodiment according to the invention, which may not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Specific features may also be considered apart from the shown embodiment and may be taken into account in a broader context as a delimiting feature, not only for the shown embodiment but as a common feature for all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1A  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an aerosol dispenser machine according to the invention; 
         FIG. 1B  shows the dispenser machine as shown in  FIG. 1A  in a loading position; 
         FIG. 1C  shows an unloaded dispenser machine as shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2A  shows in a perspective view a first embodiment of an aerosol container according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2B  shows in an exploded view an assembly of a container body and a spout of the aerosol container as shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 2C  shows an enlarged view of the spout of the aerosol container of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 2D  shows a cross sectional view of the aerosol container as shown in  FIG. 2C ; 
         FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  show two different configurations of a locking body of the dispenser machine which include recognizing means to identify a suitable aerosol container which fits in the dispenser machine; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  show the dispenser in respectively an open, non operational mode and in a closed, operational mode; 
         FIG. 4C  shows in a perspective view a drive system of a dispenser machine and an aerosol container; 
         FIG. 5A  shows in a perspective view a second embodiment of an aerosol container according to the invention; 
         FIG. 5B  shows in an exploded view an assembly of a container body and a spout according to the invention; 
         FIG. 5C  shows a cross sectional view of the aerosol container as shown in  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 6A  shows a partly cross sectional view of an aerosol dispenser machine comprising an aerosol container according to the invention; 
         FIG. 6B  shows the aerosol dispenser machine as shown in  FIG. 6A  in an operational mode; 
         FIG. 7A  shows a cross sectional view of a drive system of the aerosol dispenser machine in a loading mode; and 
         FIG. 7B  shows in a cross sectional view the aerosol drive system as shown in  FIG. 5A  in an operational mode. 
     
    
    
     Identical reference numbers are used in the drawings to indicate similar or identical components. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1A  shows a dispenser machine  1  according to the invention. The dispenser machine  1  comprises a frame  2 . The frame  2  can be used to mount the dispenser machine to a wall. The dispenser machine  1  is in particular suitable to serve as a soap dispenser machine. The soap dispenser machine may be wall mounted. The dispenser machine  2  is in particular suitable to be mounted at public places. The soap dispenser machine may be mounted to a wall in a public sanitary room. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1B , the dispenser machine  1  has a storage space  7  which is covered by a cover  3 . The cover  3  is pivotally connected to the frame  2 . The cover  3  can be opened for loading an aerosol container. After loading the aerosol container  9  in the storage space  7 , the cover  3  can be closed and locked to the frame  2  by a latch.  FIG. 1B  shows the dispenser machine having the cover  3  in an open position. The cover  3  is rotatable about a horizontal axis  4  in a lower region such that the cover  3  can be opened by moving the cover  3  downwards. The cover  3  can be lifted upwards to close the cover  3 , wherein the cover fully conceals the aerosol container  9  in the storage space  7 . The cover  3  can be locked with a key in the closed position by a lock which is incorporated in a pivoting shaft which defines the horizontal axis  4 . 
     The dispenser machine  1  has a discharge opening  6  at a lower region of the frame  2 . The dispenser machine  1  has detecting means to detect whether a person&#39;s hand is present under the discharge opening  6 . If a person&#39;s hand is present, the dispensing machine  1  will be activated and dispense a product e.g. soap. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1B  the frame  2  has a support  5  to support a filled aerosol container  9 . 
       FIG. 1C  shows an empty opened dispenser machine  1 . No aerosol container is installed in the storage space  7  of the dispenser machine  1 .  FIG. 1C  shows the support  5  which has a receiving chamber  61  for receiving a spout of the aerosol container. The receiving chamber  61  extends through the support  5  and runs into the discharge opening  6 . The receiving chamber  61  has orientation means which include an orienting member  62  for orienting an aerosol container within the dispenser machine  1  in a rotational direction about a longitudinal axis of the aerosol container. 
     The dispenser machine  1  has a locking body  63  to lock the aerosol container  9  in the dispenser machine. The locking body  63  is positioned at the support  5 . The locking body  63  is positioned at a front region of the dispenser machine. The locking body is pivotally connected to the frame  2  of the dispenser machine. The locking body  63  is movable from an open position to receive an aerosol container in the receiving chamber  5  towards a closed position wherein an aerosol container is locked in the receiving chamber. In the closed position the locking body  63  engages the aerosol container  9 . An operation of the locking body cooperates with an operation of the cover  3  of the dispenser machine. When closing the cover  3 , an inner portion of the cover  3  contacts the locking body  63  and presses the locking body in the closed position. 
     The locking body  63  is designed to make an unique engagement with an aerosol container  9 . The locking body  63  fits to one type of aerosol containers. Herewith, the locking body is designed as a recognizing means to recognize a suitable aerosol container for the dispenser machine. If an unsuitable aerosol container is placed in the receiving chamber  61 , it will not be possible to close the locking body  63  and hence it will not be possible to close the cover  3 . This aspect will be further explained with reference to  FIGS. 3A and 3B . 
     An embodiment of the aerosol container  9  is shown in  FIG. 2A-2D . The aerosol container  9  has a container body  10  and a spout  20 . The container body  10  has a cylindrical wall  11 , a bottom end  12  and a top end  13 . The cylindrical wall  11  defines an axial direction of the aerosol container  9 . A spout  20  is fixed to the top end  13  of the container body  10 . The aerosol container  9  has to be positioned upside down in the dispenser machine  1 . The spout  20  of the aerosol container  9  is than supported by the support  5 . The spout  20  is received in the receiving chamber  61 . 
     The spout  20  has an injection moulded spout housing  21 . The spout housing  21  has an outer wall  22  which defines an outer circumference of the spout. As shown in  FIG. 2A , the spout housing  21  has a non-circular shape. The spout  20  comprises a spout lock  24  for a rotational lock of the spout  20  in the receiving chamber of the dispenser machine  1 . The spout lock  24  here is formed by a bulge at the outer circumferential wall  22  of the spout housing  21 . The bulge which forms the spout lock  24  fits in a recess at the circumference of the receiving chamber  61 . After placement of the aerosol container  9  in the dispenser machine  1 , the spout lock  24  prevents the aerosol container  9  from rotating with respect to the dispenser machine. 
     The outer wall  22  circumferences an inner actuating mechanism  50 . The inner actuating mechanism  50  has an actuator member  59  for actuating a nozzle of the container body  10 . The actuator member  59  is centrally positioned inside the spout housing  21 . The aerosol container  9  will be elucidated in further detail in  FIG. 2B-2D . 
       FIG. 2B  shows the container body  10 , wherein a stem valve  14  is arranged at the top end  13  of the container body. The stem valve is shown very schematically as stem valves are generally known. The stem valve  14  has a hollow stem  41  for discharging product from the container body  10 . The stem valve  14  is normally closed in a closed position and is actuable to an open position by tilting and/or axially moving the hollow stem  141 . The stem valve  14  opens when the stem is depressed towards the container body and/or when the stem is depressed to tilt the hollow stem in a radial direction. 
     Such a container body without a spout but including such a stem valve is commonly known in the prior art. Such a container body  10  is used for all kind of products like hair spray, insecticides, lubricants, dyes, soaps etc. The container body  10  may be made out of metal, in particular out of stainless steel. The body may also be of plastic. The container body  10  here is formed by a sheet material which is rolled in a longitudinal direction and closed along a longitudinal edge e.g. by welding. The container body has a longitudinal extending seam along the cylindrical wall  11 . When loading the aerosol container  9  in the dispenser machine  1 , the seam at the cylindrical wall is preferably directed towards the frame  2  at the back side. This orientation of the aerosol container  9  is determined by the spout lock  24  at the outer wall  22  of the spout  20 . 
       FIG. 2B  shows in an exploded view the arrangement of the spout  20  in further detail. The spout  20  comprises a spout housing  21  which houses several components of the inner actuating mechanism  50 . 
     The spout housing  21  is solidly fixed to an upper outer edge  1401  of the container body  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2D , the spout housing has a once only snap on fitting at an inner circumference of the outer wall  22  to snap the spout housing  21  to the upper outer edge of the container body  10 . A user cannot easily remove the spout housing from the container body  10 . The solid fixation of the spout housing will prevent a person to remove the spout housing from the container body. An attempt to remove the spout housing may damage the aerosol container. 
     The spout  20  further comprises an outlet opening  25 . The outlet opening  25  is in fluid communication with the hollow stem of the stem valve  14 . The outlet opening is provided with an outlet nozzle. The outlet nozzle is designed for discharging a spray. The outlet nozzle is connected to the spout housing  21  at an upper region. 
     The inner actuating mechanism  50  is provided to actuate the stem valve  14  to the open position. The actuating mechanism  50  here is arranged to depress the hollow stem  141  in the axial direction towards the container body  10 . 
       FIG. 2C  shows the inner actuating mechanism  50  in further detail. The actuating mechanism comprises an actuator member  59 . The actuator member comprises a cam profile  52 . Herewith, the actuating mechanism  50  is cam operated. The component comprising the cam profile  52  defines an actuator member to act on the stem valve  14  to displace it to the open position. The cam profile  52  here is axially movable to depress the hollow stem  141 . The actuator member comprises a contact surface  524  which is in contact with the stem valve  14 . 
     The cam profile  52  has a cylindrical body including a central axis which extends in axial direction. The cam profile  52  has a cam surface  521  at a top face of the cylindrical body which in this example has two depressions and two elevations in axial direction. The two elevations are positioned opposite each other with respect to the central axis through the cylindrical body. The cam profile  52  has rotational symmetry. An object with rotational symmetry is an object that looks the same after a certain amount of rotation. An object may have more than one rotational symmetry. Rotational symmetry of order n, also called n-fold rotational symmetry, or discrete rotational symmetry of the nth order, with respect to a particular point (in 2D) or axis (in 3D) means that rotation by an angle of 360°/n (180°, 120°, 90°, 72°, 60°, 51 3/7°, etc.) does not change the object. With two elevations, the cam profile  52  has a two fold rotational symmetry. In particular, the cam profile has at least two fold rotational symmetry, more in particular the cam profile  52  has at least a four fold rotational symmetry. In particular the height difference in between an elevation and a depression at the cam surface  521  is at most 5 mm. The cam surface  521  is exposed in axial direction. The cam profile  52  is uncovered and accessible to be engaged from a component of the dispenser machine  1  to operate the actuator member  59 . 
     The cam profile  52  is locked with respect to the outer wall  22  of the spout  20  in a rotational direction about the central axis by a lock member  522 . The lock member  522  prevents a relative rotation but permits an axial displacement of the actuator member  59 . The lock member  522  is a spring leaf. The lock member  522  is resilient and elastically deforms when loaded. The lock member  522  is ring shaped and circumferences the cam profile  52  of the actuator member  59 . The lock member is fixed to the outer wall  22  at two opposite positioned outer fixation points and fixed to the actuator member  59  by two opposite positioned inner fixation points. The outer fixation points are staggered with respect to the inner fixation points over 90 degrees in rotational direction. The outer wall  22 , the lock member  522  and the actuator member  59  which includes the cam profile  52  are integrally molded and out of one piece. 
       FIG. 2C  further shows a protrusion  230  at the outer wall  22  of the spout housing  21 . The protrusion  230  is arranged to identify the aerosol container  9 . The positioning of the protrusion  230  provides a unique engagement with the locking body  63  of the dispenser machine  1 . The locking body  63  is provided with a corresponding recess at an outer surface which cooperates with the protrusion  230 . When the protrusion  230  matches with the recess of the locking body, the aerosol container is suitable to be installed in the dispenser machine. In a particular, the locking body  63  of the dispenser machine and the spout housing  21  of the aerosol container  9  may have an equal color to directly inform a user whether the aerosol container  9  fits or not. A mismatch of colors may indicate that the aerosol container is not suitable to be installed in the dispenser machine. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  further illustrate the engagement of the locking body  63  and the spout housing  21 .  FIGS. 3A and 3B  show two configurations of the locking body  63 , wherein the recess in the locking body  63  is positioned in accordance with the protrusion  230  of the spout housing  21 . In case of a corresponding positioning of the recess and protrusion  230 , the locking body  63  can be closed which means that the aerosol container is suitable for the dispenser machine  1 . So, the locking body  63  serves also as a recognizing means to recognize a suitable aerosol container. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show the dispenser in respectively an open, non operational mode and in a closed, operational mode. During a closing movement of the cover  3  of the dispenser machine  3 , the cover  3  contacts the locking body  63  to press the locking body  63  in a locking position. In case that an unsuitable aerosol container  9  is installed, it will be impossible to close the cover  3  of the dispenser machine. 
       FIG. 4A  shows an installed aerosol container  9  in the dispenser machine  1 . The aerosol container  9  is positioned up side down in the dispenser machine. The spout  20  is received in the receiving chamber  61  at the support  5 . The dispenser machine comprises a first cam profile  51 . The first cam profile  51  is centrally positioned at the support  5  in the receiving chamber  61 . The first cam profile  51  is designed to cooperate with the cam profile  52  of the aerosol container  9 , which cam profile  52  will be hereafter be referred as the second cam profile  52 . The first cam profile  51  has a first cam surface  511 . 
     During an operation the first cam surface  511  is in contact with the second cam surface  521  of the second cam profile  52 . Both cam profiles  51 ,  52  are provided with at least one depression and/or elevation. The first cam profile  51  here includes two depressions and two elevations. The second cam profile  52  here includes also two depressions and two elevations which correspond in geometry with the depressions and elevations of the first cam profile  51 . The second cam profile  52  is arranged in mirror symmetry with the first cam profile  51 . A movement of the first cam profile  51  in axial direction is blocked. In operation a rotation of the first cam profile  51  will result in an axial movement of the second cam profile  52 . In case that an elevation of the first cam profile  51  is positioned opposite a depression of the second cam profile  52 , the actuator member is positioned away from the container body  10  and the stem valve is closed. The first and second cam profiles are in that mode positioned close to each other. In case that an elevation of the first cam profile  51  is opposite an elevation of the second cam profile  52 , the first and second cam profile will be spaced from each other. In that mode, the actuator member  59  is positioned towards the container body  10  and will exert a depressing force on the stem valve  14 . The hollow stem will be depressed and the stem valve  14  is opened. 
       FIG. 4C  further illustrates in an isolated view a drive system to drive the first cam profile  51 . The first cam profile  51  is drivable in rotation by the drive system which comprises a transmission with a first and second gear wheel  251 , 252  and a motor  250 . The transmission comprises a first gear wheel which cooperates with a micro switch to switch the motor  250  off after an activation. The micro switch may switch the motor off after one turn of the first gear wheel  251 , The speed of the motor may be controlled by a control unit which may have an operator interface  2501  at the front side of the frame  2  as shown in  FIG. 1C . The operator interface is positioned under the cover  3  when placed in the closed position which is out of reach of a user. 
     The transmission has a second gear wheel  252  which is connected to the primary gear wheel  53  which can be rotated to act the actuator member  59 . The primary gear wheel  53  is molded in one piece with the first cam profile  51 . 
     Another embodiment of the aerosol container  9  is shown in  FIG. 5A  and has a container body  10  and a spout  20 . The aerosol container  9  is positioned upside down in the dispenser machine  1 . The spout  20  of the aerosol container  9  is supported by the support  5 . The support  5  has a receiving chamber  61  for receiving the spout  20  of the aerosol container  9 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5A , the spout  20  here has a non-circular shape. The spout  20  comprises a spout lock  24  for a rotational lock of the spout  20  in the receiving chamber  61  of the dispenser machine  1 . The spout lock  24  here is formed by a flat surface at an outer wall  22  of the spout  20 . 
     The container body  10  has a cylindrical wall  11 , a bottom end  12  and a top end  13 . The cylindrical wall  11  defines an axial direction of the aerosol container  9 . A spout  20  is fixed to the top end  13  of the container body  10 . The spout  20  has an injection moulded spout housing  21 . The spout housing  21  has a outer wall  22 . The outer wall  22  has an access opening  23  to access an inner actuating mechanism. The inner actuating mechanism  50  has a primary gear wheel  53  to be accessed and engaged by a drive component of the dispenser machine. The gear wheel  53  is accessible from outside the spout housing  21 . 
       FIG. 5B  shows in an exploded view, the container body  10 , wherein a stem valve  14  is arranged at the top end  13  of the container body. The stem valve is shown very schematically as stem valves are generally known. The stem valve  14  has a hollow stem  41  for discharging product from the container body  10 . The stem valve  14  is normally closed in a closed position and is actuable to an open position by tilting and/or axially moving the hollow stem  141 . The stem valve  14  opens when the stem is depressed towards the container body and/or when the stem is depressed to tilt the hollow stem in a radial direction. 
     Such a container body without a spout but including such a stem valve is commonly known in the prior art. Such a container body  10  is used for all kind of products like hair spray, insecticides, lubricants, dyes, soaps etc. The container body  10  may be made out of metal, in particular out of stainless steel. The body may also be of plastic. The container body  10  here is formed by a sheet material which is rolled in a longitudinal direction and closed along a longitudinal edge e.g. by welding. The container body has a longitudinal extending seam along the cylindrical wall  11 . When loading the aerosol container  9  in the dispenser machine  1 , the seam at the cylindrical wall is preferably directed towards the frame  2  at the back side. This orientation of the aerosol container  9  is determined by the spout lock  24  at the outer wall  22  of the spout  20 . 
       FIG. 5B  shows in the exploded view the arrangement of the spout  20  in further detail. The spout  20  comprises a spout housing  21  which houses several components of an inner actuating mechanism  50 . The inner actuating mechanism  50  is provided to actuate the stem valve  14  to the open position. The actuating mechanism  50  here is arranged to depress the hollow stem  141  in the axial direction towards the container body  10 . The actuating mechanism  50  comprises a gear wheel  53  as a primary drive member. The gear wheel  53  is made of plastic. The gear wheel  53  has a toothed outer contour which is engageable by a drive component ( 252 , see  FIG. 7B ) of the dispenser machine. The rotation axis of the gear wheel is parallel to the axis of the container body. The gear wheel  53  can be engaged through the access opening  23  in the spout housing. 
     Further, the inner actuating mechanism  50  here comprises a pair of a first cam profile  51  and a second cam profile  52 . The actuating mechanism  50  is cam operated. The first and second cam profiles have a cam surface  511 ,  521  which in this example have both two depressions and two elevations in axial direction which provide stability in tilt direction. The first cam profile  51  is rotatable positioned. The first cam profile  51  is connected to the gear wheel  53  to rotate together with the gear wheel  53 . The second cam profile  52  is locked with respect to the spout housing  21  in rotational direction by a pair of a first lock member  522  at the second cam profile  52  and a second lock member  523  at the spout housing  21 . The component comprising the second cam profile  52  defines an actuator member to act on the stem valve  14  to displaced it to the open position. The second cam profile  52  here is axially movable to depress the hollow stem  141 . The actuator member comprises a contact surface  524  which is in contact with the stem valve  14 . 
     During an operation the first cam surface  511  is in contact with the second cam surface  521  of the second cam profile  52 . Both cam profiles  51 ,  52  are provided with at least one depression and/or elevation. The first cam profile  51  here includes two depressions and two elevations. The second cam profile  52  here includes also two depressions and two elevations which correspond in geometry with the depressions and elevations of the first cam profile  51 . The second cam profile  52  is arranged in mirror symmetry with the first cam profile  51 . In operation a rotation of the first cam profile  51  will result in an axial movement of the second cam profile  52 . In case that an elevation of the first cam profile  51  is positioned opposite a depression of the second cam profile  52 , the actuator member is positioned away from the container body  10  and the stem valve is closed. The first and second cam profile are in that mode positioned close to each other. In case that an elevation of the first cam profile  51  is opposite an elevation of the second cam profile  52 , the first and second cam profile will be spaced from each other. In that mode, the actuator member is positioned towards the container body  10  and will exert a depressing force on the stem valve  14 . The hollow stem will be depressed and the stem valve  14  is opened. 
     The actuator member of the actuating mechanism here further comprises a stopper  31 . The stopper  31  cooperates with a stopper seat  32  to define a drip stop valve. The drip stop valve is in particular advantageous for an aerosol container filled with a foamable soap. The aerosol container  9  as shown in  FIG. 2  is advantageous for an aerosol container  9  which is filled with a product which has to be sprayed. 
       FIG. 5C  further elucidates this drip stop  30  by showing the aerosol container in a cross sectional view. 
       FIG. 5C  shows the container body  10  and the spout  20 . The spout  20  is fixed to the top end  13  of the container body  10 . The top end  13  is provided with a stem valve  14 . The stem valve  14  here comprises an undulating base plate  140 . The hollow stem  141  is fixed to the base plate  140 . The hollow stem  141  has a first open end  142  outside the container body  10  and a second open end  143  inside the container body  10 . A membrane (not shown) is arranged inside the container body  10  to shut off the hollow stem  141  at the second open end inside the container body. The hollow stem  141  can be depressed in axial direction to deform the membrane and to open the second open end  143  of the hollow stem  141 . The base plate  140  has an outer folded edge  1401 . The spout  20  here is fixed to the outer folded edge of  1401  of the base plate  140  as is preferred. Once the spout  20  is connected to the container body  10 , it is hardly possible to remove the spout  20  from the container body  10  without damaging one of the parts. The spout  20  is robustly fastened to the container body  10  to prevent improper use of the aerosol container. An attempt to remove the spout  20  from the container body  10  will probably damage the spout housing  21 , such that the spout housing  21  cannot be used again. Herewith, the aerosol container including the container body  10  and spout  20  is a disposable item. 
       FIG. 5C  shows the drip stop valve  30  in further detail. The stopper  31  here is needle shaped and connected to the actuator member  59 . The stopper  31  has a passage  310  which is in fluid communication with the follow stem  141 . The passage  310  extends in axial direction away from the hollow stem  141 . The passage way  310  of the stopper  31  has at a distal end at least one through bore  311  which ends up in a drip chamber  33 . A product which is exhausted from the container body  10  will pass through the passage  310  via the bore  311  to the drip chamber  33 . An outlet opening  25  will be opened when the stopper  31  is moved away from the stopper seat  32 . The product which has arrived in the drip chamber  33  will be discharged from the open outlet opening  25 . The drip stop valve is in particular suitable to be used with soap, in particular hand soap, more in particular foaming hand soap. After use of the dispenser machine  1 , the product will remain in the drip chamber  33 . The return of the stopper  31  onto the stopper seat  32  will prevent that the remaining product drips through the outlet opening  25  out of the aerosol container. Herewith the aerosol container may remain clean during its life time. The drip stop valve may further prevent hardening of the product and a clog up of the outlet opening  25  or the hollow stem. 
     The drip chamber  33  is sealed from other inner spaces of the spout  20 . A piston rod  54  having a piston seal  541  is provided to seal the drip chamber  33 . The piston rod  54  is integrated with the actuator member  59 . The actuator member  59  can be manufactured by injection moulding. The actuator member  59  may be out of one piece comprising the contact surface  524  to depress the stem valve  14 , the stopper  31  of the drip stop valve  30  and the sealed piston rod  54  to separate the drip chamber  33  from the remaining spaces and components of the spout. 
       FIG. 6A  shows a perspective view which is partially in cross section of the dispenser machine loaded with an aerosol container  9 . The aerosol container is positioned in a non-operational mode. The top head with spout  20  is inserted in the receiving chamber  61 . The outer wall  22  is positioned adjacent to an inner wall of the receiving chamber  61 . No play “a” is present in this non-operation mode. 
       FIG. 6B  shows a corresponding view including a difference in that the aerosol container is now positioned in an operation mode. The aerosol container  9  is in comparison with the non-operational mode as shown in  FIG. 3A  radially moved to the frame  2 . The aerosol container  9  is radially moved to the backside of the dispenser machine  1 . The radial movement serves to close a drive system. The drive system is further illustrated in  FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B  the spout housing  21  comprises at the outer wall  22  at least one protrusion  230 . The protrusion  230  is indicative for the type of product which is contained in the aerosol container  9 . The protrusion  230  is a technical feature which allows the dispenser machine  1  to recognize what kind of product is loaded in the dispenser machine. The protrusion  230  cooperates with at least one microswitch  210  as shown, three microswitches  210  are arranged on the frame  2  of the dispenser machine  1 . The protrusion  230  may switch a microswitch  210  when the aerosol container  9  is positioned in the operational mode. The protrusion  230  is switching the microswitch  210  via at least one lever  220  in the operational mode. The illustrated three microswitches  210  provide a possibility to recognize different types of product in an aerosol container  9 . The dispenser machine  1  may be programmed to adjust a dosage independence of the type of product loaded. 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate a drive system to operate the inner actuating mechanism of the aerosol container  9  in more detail.  FIG. 7A  shows a cross sectional view of the dispenser machine  1  in a non-operational mode.  FIG. 7B  shows the dispenser machine  1  in the operational mode, wherein gear wheels of the drive system are in engagement with each other. 
     The drive system of the dispenser machine  1  is controlled by a control unit. Detecting means  240  provide the control unit with a detecting signal. The detecting signal may be generated when a persons hand is situated under the discharge opening  6 . The control unit activates an electric motor  250 . An output shaft of the motor  250  is connected to a first gear wheel  251 , which engages to a second gear wheel  252 . The first and second gear wheel  251 ,  252  define a first stage of transmission of the drive system. The second gear wheel engages with the primary gear wheel  53  of the actuating mechanism  50  inside the spout housing  21 . The second gear wheel  252  engages the gear wheel  53  via the access opening  23 . A rotational movement of the second gear wheel  252  is transferred to the rotatable gear wheel  53  which will operate the stem valve to an open position. 
     Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to particular embodiments, from reading this description those of scale in the art may appreciate changes and modification that may be possible from a technical point of view but which do not depart from the scope of the invention as described above and claimed hereafter. It will be understood by those of scale in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. 
     In a variant of the illustrated embodiments of the aerosol container a combination of features may be made wherein e.g. the drip stop valve which is shown in  FIG. 5C  is incorporated in the design of the aerosol container as shown in  FIG. 4A . 
     The illustrated embodiment has a container body with a valve of a male type, in which the valve includes a hollow stem. In a variant, it is also possible to apply a valve of a female type, in which the actuator member of the spout is adapted to fit on the female valve. The actuator member may include the hollow stem. 
     Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1